
Class M&Q1 

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THE 
SEVENTH MANCHESTERS 



Published by the University of Manchester at 

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The Hon. A. M. HENLEY, C.M.G., D.S.O. 
Brig. -Gen. (retired), late Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade 



The 

Seventh Manchesters 

July 191 6 to March 1919 

By 

Captain S. J. WILSON, M.C. 

WITH A PREFACE BY 

The Hon. ANTHONY M. HENLEY, C.M.G., D.S.O. 

(Brigadier-General (retired), late Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade) 
AND AN INTRODUCTION BY 

GERALD B. HURST, T.D., K.C., M.P. 

(Lieut. -Col. Commanding the 7th Bn. Manchester Regiment) 



MANCHESTER 
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 

LONGMANS, GREEN 6- CO. 

LONDON, NEW YORK, BOMBAY, ETC. 
1920 



*$ 






Contents. 



Preface by Brigadier-General A. M. Henley, CM. G.,D.S.O. 
Introduction by Lieut. -Col. G. B. Hurst, K.C., M.P. 

List of Illustrations 

List of Sketch Maps 

Chapter I. — Holding up the Turk. 

„ II. — Desert Life 

„ III. — For France 

„ IV. — Holding the Line 

„ V. — Belgium 

„ VI.— An Interlude 

„ VII. — Stopping the Hun 

„ VIII. — Worrying the Hun 

„ IX. — Hammering the Hun 

„ X. — Pursuing the Hun .. 

„ XL — Aftermath and Home 



Appendix I. — Honours and Awards to 
the Battalion 



Members of 



II. — Members of the Battalion Killed in Action 
Died of Wounds, Missing, etc ... 



Index 



PAGE 

vii 
*xi 

XV 

xvi 
I 

16 

3° 

34 

47 

65 

75 

94 

113 

134 

142 

144 

148 
156 



Preface. 



I FIRST met the 7th Manchesters early in May, 191 7, 
when they were gaining new experiences of warfare 
on the Western front, not far from Epehy in the 
north of France. They, with the rest of the 127th Infantry 
Brigade, and in fact the whole of the 42nd Division had 
already had a long war experience in Gallipoli and Egypt, 
but they had only recently been transferred to France. 
I was taking up the command of an Infantry Brigade 
for the first time. I did not know then what a lucky man 
I was, but it did not take me long to find out, and we 
worked together without a break from that time until the 
armistice. 

The writer of this book passes over with considerable 
sang froid a certain operation which took place on a June 
night in 191 7. If the 7th Manchesters, and not only the 
7th, but the 5th, 6th and 8th as well will allow me to ;say 
so, I did not enjoy the same complete confidence as to 
the result before and during the night in question. The 
operation consisted of digging a complete new front line 
trench, a mile long, on the whole Brigade Sector, five 
hundred yards in advance of the existing front line, and 
half way across No Man's Land. June nights are short 
and it needed practically the whole brigade to get the 
job done in time. We had to find not only the diggers, 



viii PREFACE. 

but the covering troops and strong parties for carrying 
and wiring. Now four battalions digging on a bare 
hillside within point blank range of the enemy's rifles 
and machine guns are not well placed tq meet attack or 
even to avoid fire if they are caught. So everything 
possible had to be done to avoid raising any suspicion of 
what was on foot in the minds of the watchful Germans. 
The troops had to work at high pressure and in absolute 
silence. The R.E. who were to lay the tapes were the 
first to go forward after the covering troops; then came the 
wire carriers, and, as soon as the R.E. had had time to 
get the tapes into position, out went the diggers, who, after 
reaching the line, had to be spaced out at working dis- 
tances along the whole front. We who stayed behind 
spent some anxious hours. However complete the 
arrangements and however perfectly executed there was 
yet a chance that some enterprising and inquisitive Ger- 
man patrol might find out what was happening in time to 
give one of their local commanders an opportunity of 
hindering our work. We had to make such arrangements 
as would give the appearance that we were doing nothing 
unusual, that we were in fact excruciatingly normal. There 
must be neither more noise nor less than on an ordinary 
night, and so the artillery and machine guns must fire their 
accustomed bursts into the likely places in the German 
lines. 

It was a great success. By dawn there was a trench, 
continuous at least in appearance along the whole" front, 
at intervals there were rifle and Lewis gun posts in it; 
and if there were places where it was preferable to pass 
along in the attitude of the serpent after his expulsion 



PREFACE. ix 

from the Garden of Eden and ever since, there was noth- 
ing to show the Germans which they were. There was 
wire in front, and the troops got back without more 
casualties than averaged as a result of the ordinary 
nightly strafes. 

Though we took on many tougher jobs later I was 
never again anxious as to the result. 

Our great days were: — 

Stopping the Germans East of BUCQUOY — 

March 23rd to 29th, 1918. 

The advance West of MIRAUMONT— 

2 1 st August, 1 91 8. 

The Capture of MIRAUMONT and PYS— 

24th August, 1 91 8. 

The Capture of VILLERS AU FLOS— 

2nd September, 191 8. 

The Battle of the HINDENBURG LINE— 

27th September, 191 8. 

The Battle of the SELLE RIVER— 

20th October, 191 8. 

In every one of these the 7th Manchesters were! called 
upon to play a part. Whether their original role in the 
plan of battle had been to lead the attack or to r act in 
support they were always in the picture before the end 
of the fight. I am not going to pick out this or that 
as their finest performances. The reader can choose' for 
himself when he has finished the book. It is enough 
for me to say that, whatever task was given them, they 



x PREFACE. 

took on cheerfully and carried through magnificently. 
Not only that, but they were anxious to go beyond what 
was demanded of them, as is well shown by the fighting 
at La Signy Farm which they attacked and captured on 
their own initiative. 

I can only wish them individually the same success in 
peace as they won as a battalion in war. I think they 
will have it. For it takes first-class men to make a first- 
class fighting unit. Perhaps many of them will join 
again under the old colours. I hope so, and I congratu- 
late in advance any commander whose good luck it 
may be to lead them. 

A. M. HENLEY, Brig. Gen. (retired) 

late Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade. 
2 1st February i IQ20. 



Introduction. 



CAPTAIN WILSON'S book continues the story 
of the 7th (ist 7th) Manchesters, which is recorded 
in my own book " With Manchesters in the East," 
from July, 191 6 until November, 191 8. It is written with 
intimate knowledge and much understanding, and will 
be enjoyed by all his comrades. It was the good for- 
tune of the Manchester Territorials (127th Brigade) to 
belong to the first Territorial Division (the 42nd), that 
ever left these islands for active service, and this 
active service eventually took place on three fronts. 
The 7th Battalion garrisoned the Sudan and fought 
through the Gallipoli campaign. It recruited its strength 
at Suez, and then helped to clear the Sinai Peninsula 
of the Turks. Finally it served for two and a half years 
in Flanders. It translated its motto, "We never sleep" 
into its daily life. 

This volume will be a useful supplement to any 
general history of the War. It is based on the diary 
of a Regimental Officer, who won considerable distinc- 
tion in the field, and whose eyes missed little of con- 
sequence. It is of even more value as evidence of what 
men of essentially civilian habits and traditions can 
achieve as soldiers. The numbers of the 7th Manchesters 
were never fully up to strength after April, 191 5, and 
for many months at a time while in the East they fell to 
vanishing point. Yet from the day in September, 1914, 
when the original first-line Battalion sailed from South- 
ampton for Port Sudan in the " Grantully Castle," each 
successive draft was of the same mould. The men came 
from the same neighbourhood, were of the same capacity, 
and had "been bred with the same ideas. Their devotion 



xii INTRODUCTION. 

was founded on a sense of duty. They were personally 
utterly remote from what is called militarism, and saw 
little fascination in its pomp. The survivors are now 
absorbed once more in the undramatic industry of Lanca- 
shire. There is nothing to indicate to an observer that 
they have ever left it. The last time you saw your 
tramway conductor may have been as a bomber in " the 
western birdcage" on Cape Helles; your fellow pas- 
senger may have last talked to you as your " runner," 
when you tramped along the duckboards from Windy 
Corner to Givenchy. What such men did for England 
will therefore illustrate for all time the potentialities of 
a Territorial Force. 

Captain Wilson's style of expression and cast of thought 
are, in my view, true to type. He is the Lancashire man 
of action, who affects no literary arts. These pages are 
bare of heroics. There is a soldierly brevity in his account 
of even of the bravest exploit. There is also plenty of quiet 
humour. The reader will search vainly for any " villain 
of the piece." The " Hun" is to Captain Wilson, as to the 
normal British officer, just a " Boche " and no more; to 
the rank and file he was simply " Jerry."' If you want 
adjectives, you will have to look for them in John Bull 
or listen to speeches in the House of Commons. 

For all who were in authority over him, whether Corps 
Commanders or Divisional Generals, Brigadiers or tem- 
porary Commanding Officers, Captain Wilson has a good 
word. A reader unfamiliar with soldiers' psychology 
might deduce that all his superior officers had been 
invariably models of judgment and efficiency. He would 
possibly be quite wrong; but it is most fitting that this 
book should be framed on such lines, for they are the 
lines which our soldiers have never failed to accept. 
The rough is taken with the smooth. If ever there has 
been incompetence men have simply blamed the system 
and cursed the War Office. If they happened to have 
been five minutes in France they might have philosophi- 
cally added " c'est la guerre." The actual individual 
responsible has not been worth worrying about. Thus 
even with regard to this mere side issue, the 1 author'fe 



INTRODUCTION. xiii 

story reflects a cardinal attribute of the national character, 
and therefore in its essence conveys the truth. 

In my opinion, it is not, however, the whole truth. 
There is no reason why England in her reconstruction 
should forget that want of sympathy with the Territorials, 
which far too often marked men, to whose hands their 
fortunes were from time to time entrusted. This vice 
should be borne in mind not because the memory jis 
bitter; but because by remembrance we may make' its 
repetition in later wars impossible. Territorials ought 
never to be ousted from the command of their own units, 
or to be excluded from staff appointments, merely because 
they are not Regulars or because they fail to comply with 
needlessly drastic and therefore non-essential codes of 
discipline. Discipline is, in fact, degraded into servitude 
when it becomes a mere fetish. How fallaciously it may 
be construed could often be seen in the tendency among 
powerful martinets to " drive a coach and four " through 
the law and procedure which regulate trials by Court 
Martial. The need for the "standardisation" of all in- 
fantry units in France was quite genuine; but unimagina- 
tive men in authority could make " standardisation " a 
burden to the spirit, and the picture of some men of this 
class, which is painted in A. P. Herbert's novel, The 
Secret Battle, is founded on the truth. We have all seen 
such cases. The grinding necessities of the Western 
front ended the joyous amateurism, which a Territorial 
unit was able to preserve through all its vicissitudes in 
Eastern warfare, but they did not require the prevailing 
banishment of individuality and of the exercise of intellect 
from Regimental life. 

After landing in France the 42nd Division had to make 
a new reputation by rising from the ruck, and it is very 
notable that the personnel of the 7th Manchesters, as of 
the other units in the Division, although almost completely 
changed from the personnel of the Battalion when in 
Gallipoli and drawn from a later generation of recruits, 
achieved equal distinction and much greater technical 
efficiency. This fact points to the wonderful resourceful- 
ness of the English people. Historically it shows how 
thoroughly our Army of 191 7- 18 was professionalised. 



xiv INTRODUCTION. 

The later chapters of Captain Wilson's book detail 
very brilliant fighting by our men, which it would be 
idle and impertinent to praise. Such "crowded hours" 
are not, however, and never have been the most typical 
of a soldier's life. Infinitely more numerous were the 
hours of endurance and privation, which the 7th spent 
among the broken ravines of Gallipoli, among the dreary 
mud flats on either bank of the Yser, among the desolate 
craters in front of Cuinchy and Le Plantin. In their 
patience and fortitude amid these wastes lies their 
strongest title to the gratitude of Christendom. 

Peace is already dimming men's memories of the War 
as effectually as the grass is covering the ruins of 
devastated France. The Manchester Territorial is back 
at his job. The broken home no longer feels the same 
first poignancy of grief. " Man goeth forth unto his 
work and unto his labour until the evening," and it is a 
good thing for the world that he does. Nevertheless, all 
men and women who cherish associations with the 7th 
Manchesters will, I think, read and re-read Captain 
Wilson's work for many years to come. From amid all 
the hardships and miseries of soldiering which the 
Englishman readily forgets, the light of self-sacrifice 
shines upon the human race with a never fading beauty. 
Herein lies the true romance of war. As the reader 
turns over the ensuing pages he cannot but realise some- 
thing of the cumulative drudgery and hardships which 
these men endured for their country. 

To the 7th Manchesters themselves they mean much 
more. The very place names of our warfare recall the 
memory of the comrades whom we have loved and lost, 
the early enthusiasms which we shall never feel again : — 
Khartoumn, Gallipoli, Shallufa, Suez, Ashton-in-Sinai, 
Coxyde, Nieuport, Aire, Bethune, Ypres, Bucquoy, 
Havrincourt. When we are very old, many of us will still 
conjure up the tune of " Keep the Home Fires Burning " 
on the lips of tired men beneath the stars on Geoghegan's 
Bluff; the thud of the shovel falling upon the sand ridges 
of Sinai while a blazing sun rose over Asia; the refrain 
of "Annie Laurie" sung by candle-light in some high 
roofed barn behind the lines in Belgium. 

I hear them now. Gerald B. Hurst. 



List of Illustrations. 

PAGE 

Plate I Frontispiece V 

Brigadier-General Anthony M. Henley. 

Plate II facing 8* 

i. Group of Officers. N.B. Fleur de Lys. 

2. Ridge occupied on August 5th, 19 16. 

3. Issue of Water: Morning of August 5th, 1916. 

4. In Katia: August 6th, 1916. 

Plate III facing 18 V 

1. Bivouac Shelters on the Desert. 

2. Making the Railway over the Desert. 

3. At El Mazar. 

4. Digging a Well. 



List of Sketch Maps. 

PAGE 

The Sinai Desert 21/ 

Nieuport and Coast Sector 57y/ 

Round about Bapaume 78* 

Attack on the Hindenburg Line, September 27th, 1918 125V 

Area covered during advance of 42nd Division, 1918, 

facing 143 



CHAPTER I. 

Holding up the Turk. 

IN September, 1914, the 7th Bn. Manchester Regiment 
set out for active service in the East in goodly 
company, for they were a part of the 42nd (East 
Lancashire) Division, the first territorials to leave these 
shores during the Great War. After many interesting 
days spent on garrison duty in the Sudan and Lower 
Egypt they journeyed to Gallipoli soon after the landing 
had been effected, and took a continuous part in that 
ill-fated campaign until the final evacuation. The 
beginning of 191 6 thus found them back in Egypt, where 
they were taking part in General Maxwell's scheme for 
the defence of the Suez Canal. The things that befell the 
battalion during this long period have been admirably 
described in Major Hurst's book With Manchesters in 
the East, and this short history will attempt to continue 
the narrative from the point where it left off. 

At the end of June, 191 6, the 7th Manchesters made a 
short trip by rail along the Suez Canal, the last railway 
journey they were to make as a battalion for many a 
long day. The 42nd Division left the defence of the 
southern half of the Canal in the able hands of the East 
Anglian Territorials, and journeyed north to the Kantara 
region. It was not definitely known why we made this 
move, but there were persistent rumours that we were 
destined for France, where events were speeding towards 
a big battle. However, the 7th detrained at Kantara and 
there met, for the first time since Gallipoli, the 52nd 
(Lowland Scottish) Division. We knew very little of this 
coastal region of the desert. Occasional stories had 
floated down to us to supplement the very meagre official 



2 HOLDING UP THE TURK. 

communiques as to events there, but it was recognised 
as a place where opportunities of getting in touch with 
our invisible enemy were rather better than in the south. 
So it was felt that, even if we did not go to France, life 
would lose a certain amount of that deadly monotony 
which we had experienced for six months. 

It transpired that the 127th Brigade were to relieve 
detachments of the nth Division, who, it was openly 
whispered, were definitely to sail for France to try their 
luck in the more vigorous scene of this great adventure. 
Most interesting to us was the discovery that we were to 
take over posts occupied by the nth Manchesters, the 
first Kitchener battalion of our own regiment. Our astonish- 
ment and delight can be imagined when we saw that they 
wore the good old Fleur de Lys for a battalion flash on 
the puggarees of their helmets — just as we wore it, but 
yellow instead of green. 

The battalion marched east along a good road recently 
made for military purposes, and eventually reached Hill 
70, where the headquarters were established. Early next 
morning, garrisons marched out before the heat of the 
day to occupy a series of posts arranged in semi-circular 
formation between two inundations about three miles 
apart. " B " Company took over Turk Top and No. 1 
Post. Capt. Smedley, Capt. Brian Norbury, 2nd-Lt. C. B. 
Douglas, 2nd-Lt. Pell-Ilderton being at the former, while 
Capt. J. R. Creagh, 2nd-Lt. Hacker, and later 2nd-Lt. 
Gresty took charge of the latter. "C" Company were 
divided between Nos. 2 and 3 posts, with Lt. Nasmith 
and 2nd-Lt. S. J. Wilson at No. 2, and Lt. Nidd and 
Lt. Marshall at No. 3. " A " Company, who were res- 
ponsible for Hill 70, was commanded by Capt. Tinker 
assisted by 2nd-Lt's. Kay, Woodward, Wood and Wil- 
kinson. The officers comprising headquarters were 
Lt.-Col. Canning, C.M.G., Capt. Cyril Norbury (second 
in command), Major Scott (Quartermaster), Capt. Farrow, 
M.C. (Medical Officer), Lt. H. C. Franklin, M.C., 
Adjutant and 2nd-Lt. Bateman (Signal Officer), while 
2nd-Lt. J. Baker wa|s in charge of the Lewis guns 
of the battalion. " D " Company were at Hill 40 in a 



HOLDING UP THE TURK. 3 

reserve position under the command of Capt. Higham 
supported by Capt. Townson, 2nd-Lt's. Grey Burn, 
G. W. F. Franklin, Ross-Bain, Gresty, Morten, and 
R. J. R. Baker. The work of the transport was, divided 
between Capt. Ward-Jones, and 2nd-Lt. M. Norbury. 

The posts consisted of self-contained redoubts which 
were capable of holding out in the matter of food and 
water for about three days. They ha,d been constructed 
at the cost of great labour by the 52nd Division. Routine 
was simple, our only duties being to man our posts before 
dawn, then improve and 'maintain the trenches and wire 
until about 7 when the sun entered his impossible stage. 
The same thing happened in the evening. During the 
night patrols were executed from one post to the next. 
All this carried a certain interest because we knew that 
the Turk might come near at any time in the shape of a 
flying raiding column to reach the canal. Rumours were 
frequent of his proximity, and when Turk Top one night 
frantically reported mysterious green lights, out towards 
the enemy, serious preparations were made for his recep- 
tion. The climax came, however, about noon one 
day at Hill 70 when those who were not asleep heard, 
with a mixed feeling of old familiarity, " s-s-s-sh-sh-SH 
— flop." Most of us, after cringing in the usual manner, 
said, with a relieved air, " Dud." Then followed com- 
motion. They had arrived and were shelling the post. 
The shimmering desert was eagerly scanned by the 
officers' field glasses, and all kinds of things were seen 
and not seen. Meanwhile someone went to look at the 
" Dud," and found not a shell but a large stone, still 
quite hot. It finally dawned upon everyone that we were 
bombarded from the heavens, and not by the Turk. It 
was a meteorite, still preserved amongst the battalion's 
war souvenirs, which had upset our composure. 

Whilst on duty at these posts we had a visit from the 
Marquis of Tullibardine, now Duke of Atholl, of the 
Scottish Horse, who was responsible for this section of 
the Canal defences. Lieut.- Gen. Lawrence, afterwards 
Chief of Staff in France, who was in command of the 
northern section of the Canal defences also paid a visit, 



4 HOLDING UP THE TURK. 

and remembered us as part of the brigade which he had 
commanded on Gallipoli. Important changes took place 
in the battalion at this time. Lt.-Col. Canning, C.M.G, 
relinquished the command, and returned home for duty 
in the Cork district. His departure was sorely regretted 
by all ranks, for during the twelve months he had been 
with the 7th, his capabilities as a commander had only 
been surpassed by his solicitude for the men's welfare, so 
that he had made his way into our hearts as a popular 
soldier. Major Cronshaw of the 5th Manchesters 
succeeded him and was soon afterwards made Lt. -Colonel. 
Captain Farrow, M.C., R.A.M.C., was also invalided 
home, after having had almost unbroken active service 
with the battalion since September, 1914. 

About the middle of July a fairly large column of 
Turks began to make their way across the desert from 
El Arish, intending to strike once more for the possession 
of the Suez Canal. They moved with surprising rapidity 
and wonderful concealment, and some excitement was 
caused when a large enemy force was located by air 
reconnaissance, so near as Oghratina Hod, within five 
miles of Romani, then held by the 52nd Division. A 
battle seemed imminent, and this at the worst possible 
time in the Egyptian year. A Brigade of the 53rd Division, 
consisting of Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Herefords, spent 
a night at Hill 70 on their way to occupy a defensive 
line between Romani and Mahamadiyeh on the coast. 
There was an obvious increase in aerial activity on both 
sides, and camel and other traffic on the Romani road 
became more feverish. 

On July 23rd, the 7th Lancashire Fusiliers relieved the 
battalion in all the posts and we marched back to Hill 
40, where we found the whole brigade was concentrating. 
There was much to be done in equipping the men, and 
teaching them the correct method of carrying their be- 
longings on " Mobile Column," for that was what we 
were destined to become. The equipment was worn in 
the usual " fighting kit " manner, with the haversack on 
the back and under the haversack the drill tunic, folded 
in four. This also served as a pad to protect the spine 



HOLDING UP THE TURK. 5 

from the sun. Near Hill 40 there was a large patch of 
hard sand which the Scottish Horse, who were in the 
neighbourhood, had converted into a football pitch. Small 
wonder then that we challenged the owners to a game, 
and a great game it was. The Scotsmen had an unbeaten 
record in Egypt, which they maintained, but only after 
a ding-dong game which the battalion never forgot. 

The next day the Brigade marched forward and made 
camp at Gilban, about 3^ miles N.E. of Hill 70. An 
indefinite stay was to be made here, and defensive pre- 
cautions were taken, a ring of posts being placed all 
round the camp. It was soon found that the principal 
difficulty was that of patrolling by night from post to 
post. On a desert such as this there were no landmarks 
of any sort, and as a belt of wire such as we had been 
used to at Hill 70 had not been placed between the posts 
it was by no means easy to preserve the right direction. 
As we had reached a scrub-covered desert, however, this 
difficulty was easily overcome by making a sort of track 
from one post to the next by clearing away the scrub, 
and using this to> mak'ef a clear edge to the track. 
The battalion was augmented about this time by drafts 
from home, and the following officers rejoined after hav- 
ing been invalided to England in 191 5: Lt. Douglas 
Norbury, 2nd-Lt. Bryan and 2nd-Lt. L. G. Harris, while 
a week previous Major Allan had been posted to us from 
the 8th Manchesters as second in command. 

In the army coming events often cast their shadow 
before them; and this shadow frequently takes the form 
of a visit by the Higher Command to the troops who are 
to go into action. Hence, when the Divisional Com- 
mander, Major-General Sir W. Douglas, had the 127th 
Brigade paraded for him at Gilban, and when he com- 
plimented Brigadier-General Ormsby upon the fine turn 
out, we gathered that our long period of waiting for 
the Turk was over. He told us to husband our water, 
and these words I am sure rang through many an officer's 
head in the following days. The 42nd Division, he said, 
were expected to make a great coup, and many prisoners 
were to be taken. Two days later the preliminary rumbles 



6 ROMANI AND KATIA. 

of the Battle of Romani were heard, for the Turk had 
commenced an artillery and bombing attack upon the 
garrisons there. 



ROMANI AND KATIA. 

The Turkish force, estimated at about 16,000, and 'much 
better equipped than the flying column which had made 
the first attempt to cross the canal in March the previous 
year, had been promised that they should overwhelm the 
" small " British garrisons before the Feast of Ramadan. 
They would then meet with no resistance and would enter 
victoriously into Egypt, a sort of promised land after their 
hardships across the desert. Many of them did enter 
Egypt and reached Cairo, but not in the way they wished. 
They were marched through the city as prisoners, and 
their presence as such undoubtedly created a profound 
impression upon disloyal Egyptians. 

Inspired by a number of German officers, however, 
they fought well and vigorously in the early stages of the 
attack upon Romani. They had been told that once they 
got on the hills in the neighbourhood of the British 
positions they would see the Suez Canal stretched out 
below them, and this probably urged them on to make 
almost superhuman efforts. In front of Romani, in the 
region of the Katia oasis, mobile outposts furnished by 
the Australian Light Horse were driven in after hard 
fighting, and they fell back to other positions on the 
high sand hills to the south of Romani, covering the 
right flank of the 52nd Division. Meanwhile a frontal 
attack was delivered upon the redoubts occupied by the 
latter, and the enemy made many brave attempts to reach 
the summit of Katib Gannit, a high hill, in shape similar 
to the Matterhorn, which dominated the whole desert. 
He gained a footing nowhere, however, and exposed to 
merciless rifle and machine gun fire from the Scotsmen, 
suffered heavy casualties. A similar reception was afforded 
him by the Welshmen of 158th Brigade further north 
towards Mahamadiyeh. 



ROMANI AND KATIA. 7 

It was apparent, however, that the enemy's intention 
was to force his way around the southern side and cut 
the railway and water pipe near Pelusium behind Romani, 
and in this part of the battle the Australian and New 
Zealand Light Horse, who had had to discard their 
horses and fight as infantry, found it difficult to hold their 
own against repeated assaults. More terrible than the 
Turk was the heat and the lack of water. 

Such is a rough outline of the situation when the 7th 
Manchesters along with the remainder of the 127th 
Brigade were suddenly ordered to concentrate at Pelusium. 
The morning of August 4th opened quietly for us, 
although gunfire could be heard, and bursting shrapnel 
could be seen in the direction of Duedar. We had 
settled down to ordinary routine, one company setting 
out for a short march, and others preparing fof kit in- 
spections and other camp duties, when suddenly, " B " 
Company received orders to fall in and move off, and in 
a short space of time they were entrained during the heat 
of the day for Pelusium. Before noon the whole battalion 
was collected on what was supposed to be a bivouac area 
at the new destination. But we had seen General Douglas 
going along the train at Gilban and he said: " Well, jgc-od 
luck lads, make a good bag," so we were not surprised 
when we found that settling down for bivouac was not 
to be our fate. 

The 5th Manchesters had arrived with us, and the 8th 
were following on, while the 6th were already here, hav- 
ing been sent up the previous day. Our task was to go' 
to the assistance of the Colonials and attack the Turk 
on the flank along with the 5th, the 6th and 8th being in 
support and reserve. We marched out about 4 o'clock, 
moving first south and then south-east. Meanwhile the 
battle was obviously increasing in intensity, and when we 
halted previous to extending, we could see the Turk 
shrapnel severely peppering a high ridge in front where 
a detachment of the Australian Light Horse, having 
resumed their horses, were gradually massing for a 
charge. 



8 ROMAN I AND KATIA. 

iWith the 5th on our right we extended into lines about 
2,000 yards from what appeared to be the Turkish 
position on a ridge to our front. As we swept into view 
the enemy opened fire at long range, but very soon it was 
evident that they had no< stomach left for a further fight. 
They were extremely exhausted with their exertions of 
the previous days, particularly of the past twenty-four 
hours, and the sight of lines of fresh British Infantry 
moving steadily toward them was more than their jaded 
bodies and nerves could stand. As our men climbed the 
enemy's ridge white flags began to appear. They were 
the long white sandbags carried by every Turk, and very 
convenient for their purpose. Large bodies surrendered 
and they were collected and sent to the rear. Meanwhile 
the Colonials had swept round the hill away to the right, 
and in a comparatively short space of time about six 
hundred Turks were seen being marched back by a few 
Australian troopers. The enemy's artillery had ceased 
fire and were obviously making attempts to escape east- 
wards, so with the exception of a few rifle shots from the 
direction of the 5th the battle in our sector was over for 
the day. 

This was the death blow to Turkey's and Germany's 
hopes of ever getting within striking distance of the 
Suez Canal, and a vindication of Kitchener's principle 
that British soldiers should get out on the desert to 
defend the canal, and not allow the canal to defend them. 
But more important still, it was the beginning of that 
forward move so slow and weary in its early stages, which 
later developed into General Allenby's wonderful sweep 
through Palestine. 

Before nightfall " C " and " D " Companies established 
themselves in support to the 5th Manchesters, who had 
now joined up with the Australians on the left, but there 
was very little possibility of the Turk attacking again that 
day, so all the troops were rested, in preparation for a 
strenuous attack on the morrow. Sentry groups were 
posted, and the battalion sat down and made a scanty 
meal of bread accompanied where possible with a mouth- 
ful of water. This was the first meal most men had had 




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ROMANI AND KATIA. 9 

since breakfast. Numbers of prisoners came in during 
the night, each of them carrying a full water bottle. The 
Turk knew how to preserve a water supply, and what 
was of greater interest to us, he knew where to get it. 
It speaks well, however, for the chivalry of the British 
soldier that none deprived their prisoners of their water, 
although they were probably almost without themselves. 
This sporting attitude towards the enemy, the spirit of 
" play the game " whether fighting the clean Turk or the 
not so reputable German, I never failed to observe 
throughout the war. 

Stand to at 3.30 the following morning indicated that 
work was still to be done, for in the half light, troops of 
Light Horse could be seen collecting behind a hill pre- 
paratory to a sweep forward. When they emerged in the 
increasing light, the enemy could be seen fleeing from a 
trench about 1,200 yards away. Very soon word came 
through that we were to go in pursuit, and while we 
were exercised in mind as to what we should do for 
water, we were greatly relieved when we were ordered 
back to the ridge to fill our bottles. There the welcome 
sight of camels loaded with water fantassies met our 
eyes and the men eagerly assisted in the work of distri- 
bution. Three-quarters of a bottle and a " buckshee " 
drink was the ration, and this obtained, men felt more 
fit for their labours. Food, however, there was none, and 
we had to be content with what remained of yesterday's 
rations. But it was felt that food was not so important 
if only the water would not fail. 

By seven o'clock the whole Brigade were on the move, 
and in tropical countries in the hot season, the sun's 
heat is considerable at this time. After we had travelled 
some distance the hardship of desert marching under 
these conditions began to really hit us, and undoubtedly 
the exertions of the previous day were having their effect. 
Every moment the heat increased, the sand seemed to 
become softer and softer, and the whole ground sloped 
gradually upwards. Men dropped and officers had to 
use all the powers they possessed to get them on, but 
many had to be left behind to struggle along afterwards 



io ROMANI AND KATIA. 

in their awn time. Meanwhile another long column of 
prisoners could be seen streaming away towards Romani, 
which we were now leaving well to our left rear. The 
battalion proceeded over the desert in this manner in 
artillery formation with platoons as units, and halting as 
frequently as possible. After a great physical effort we 
reached the base ojf a hill with,' a steep soft slope, 
and a sort of knife-edge , ridge at the top, where an 
Australian outpost had been surrounded a few days 
before. Australian and Turkish dead still lay as evidence 
of the fight, and the stench from their bodies produced 
by the sweltering heat did not diminish the grimness of 
the scene. 

This ridge was the battalion's position for the day, so 
after a short rest we scrambled to the top and surveyed 
the desert on the other side, lying thoroughly exhausted 
under the almost vertical rays of the sun, for it was now 
mid-day. The other side of the hill was exceptionally 
steep and dropped into a large hod (plantation of date 
palms), the first we had met on our desert travels. In 
this there appeared to be a well, and the temptation to go 
down for water was great, but how could one struggle 
up again? An occasional trooper visited this place but 
none could pursuade their horses to drink, which seemed 
to indicate that the water Was not good. Out over the 
desert the cavalry could still be seen pursuing the enemy, 
and our guns were occasionally flinging shrapnel amongst 
them. 

Strange sights were seen. A captured convoy of Turkish 
camel transport was captured, and they presented a very 
motley appearance. They were evidently collected from 
the desert lands of the Turkish Empire. They had come 
to the war dressed as for their more peaceful habits, so 
that no two men were alike. Several wore brilliantly 
coloured garments and head gear. Occasionally a 
German officer would be seen amongst the batch of weary 
prisoners. The navy's assistance in this fighting was 
marked by a monitor, miles away, standing as close to 
the shore as possible, although to us she appeared like 
a tiny toy ship. Suddenly a big flash belched forth, 



ROMANI AND KATIA. u 

followed a long time afterwards by a roar, which in 
turn was followed by a terrific explosion over the desert 
to the right where the shell had arrived in the wake of 
the retreating Turks. One of these shots at least had 
been an O.K. as we afterwards discovered, for it had 
destroyed a large part of a Turkish camel convoy. At 
four in the afternoon the battalion received orders to 
move on and occupy another ridge about one and a half 
miles in front, and "A" Company immediately set out, 
moving round the shoulder of our present hill. " C " 
Company dropped down the steep slope and waited in 
the hod for further instructions. They found there a 
batch of wounded Turks waiting to be carried off by 
the ambulance. It was with some astonishment that they 
heard Major Allan shouting to them from above to get 
back to their former position, so they struggled up the 
hill again with a very ill grace. However, plans had 
been changed and it transpired that the Lancashire 
Fusiliers had arrived and they were to take over our 
position while we went back a few yards to bivouac for 
the night 

It was now much cooler and men felt disposed to eat 
their very scanty meal. Those who had water were for- 
tunate. Just as we were settling down for the night word 
came through that Katia was to be taken next day, and 
that we should move out at four in the morning. The 
enemy were believed to be holding the oasis basin fairly 
strongly. In our extraordinarily tired condition, brought 
about by strenuous exertions and lack of nourishment, we 
did not view the prospect with too much confidence, but 
hoping that a few hours' sleep might refresh us we 
rolled into the shallow scoops we had made in the sand, 
and lay down to a rather chilly night, our only extra 
cover being the khaki drill tunic whose weight we had 
roundly cursed during the day. 

At 3 a.m. we prepared to move. In the dim light the 
eternally-blessed water camels could be seen wending 
their way towards our bivouac. As before there was 
abundance of volunteers for this vital fatigue, but most 
hearts drooped when it was found that the ration worked 



12 ROMANI AND KATIA. 

out to a pint per man I Officers and N.C.O's. sadly but 
vigorously emphasised the extreme urgency of preserving 
the water supply. Some resorted to drastic action and 
insisted that no man should drink at all without first 
obtaining permission of his officer, and on the day's 
business I am inclined to think that these officers 
obtained the best results. The Brigadier came to tell 
us we had done magnificently, but he said we should 
have a worse day to-day; water was to be had at Katia — 
when we got there. The men were also warned that it 
would probably be of little use to drop out, in fact it 
might be extremely dangerous, for the chances of being 
picked up were rather slight. 

The cheery soul of the British Tommy, however, is 
proof against all things, and he started out on this day's 
trip in the same spirit with which he tackled all jobs during 
the war: "It has tOj be done, sol do your best and put 
the best face on it." The Fleur de Lys led out the 
Brigade and trudged steadily through the soft sand in 
artillery formation. The 6th gradually got up into a 
position on our right, while the 5th and 8th followed in 
support. The march forward proceeded monotonously in 
the increasing heat, the men becoming more and more 
taciturn as the sun's power gathered. Allowance of 
course had to be made for the weariness of the men and 
the heavy going. Then a halt was called and we waited 
for an hour. It appeared that the L.F's., who formed 
the left of the 42nd Divisional front, had been rather 
late in starting, and it was necessary to wait for them. 
Then the forward movement commenced again, and after 
some time another long halt was necessary. Our men 
were now in a great hollow in the sand in which there 
was not a breath of wind, and the sun now at the height 
of its fury beat down mercilessly. 

There is little doubt that this lying unprotected in the 
heat simply sapped our energy, and everyone wished that 
we could have pushed on ahead. General Douglas came 
to cheer the men up, and announced that over 3,000 
Turkish prisoners and a large quantity of material had 
been captured to date. For the moment, however, men 



ROMANI AND KATIA. 13 

had lost their grip of interest in such matters, and were 
chiefly concerned with their own personal affairs. They 
behaved splendidly and with great physical effort resisted 
the need to drink. Officers were grateful to one or two 
men in their platoons who proved a moral support to 
their comrades by keeping a cheerful countenance, inter- 
posing a ribald remark when things looked black, and 
explaining to their weakest pals the rigours of the 
necessity in a rougher but more intelligible manner than 
their leaders could have done. Such men are invaluable 
and are always to be found on these occasions. 

Reconnoitring patrols of Australian Light Horse and 
Yeomanry passed through, and from remarks dropped 
by returning troopers it soon became apparent that little 
if any resistance would be met with. A detachment of 
Ayrshire and Inverness Horse Artillery were keeping pace 
with our column and occasionally they opened fire, 
obviously upon fleeting targets of retreating Turks. A 
thick wood of date palms in the distance indicated Katia, 
and all men gazed upon this as the Mecca in which water 
was to be found. Some eight hundred yards from this, 
however, was another hod which had to be traversed by 
the 127th Brigade, and as we were leading, it devolved 
upon us to make quite sure that it was not occupied. 
The 6th and 7th therefore extended and assumed attack 
formation to pass through the hod. This was a difficult 
moment ana tested the fibre of men and the battalion 
as a whole to the utmost. The extra physical exertion 
and the loss of companionship which one gets in the close 
formation served almost as a breaking point to endur- 
ance. Perhaps the best summary of the psychology of 
this period is found in the words from the diary of one 
of the officers : — 

" Then it was that my energy gave out. I moved about 
along the line shouting at the men to preserve their dressing 
and correct intervals. Much had to be done. We inclined 
first to the left and then to the right and it was very 
trying. Men began to drop and I could not help them now 
that I had lost touch with them. Then I began to lose 
all interest. I had become purely self-centred — if the whole 
platoon had collapsed I am afraid I should not have been 



14 ROMANI AND KATIA. 

concerned. I had almost got to such a state that if the Turks 
had suddenly appeared from the wood I should not have 
cared what the consequences were. Yet I was determined not 
to touch water for I recognised that that was required for the 
last extremity. My head dropped and my knees would not 
straighten. The load on my shoulders was ten times its weight. 
The haversack and tunic on my back seemed to pull me down, 
but the greatest weight was an extra haversack which I had 
attached to my equipment on the left. It contained all manner 
of necessaries and comforts, and ties with home. I was deter- 
mined not to part with it, although I confess I was almost 
impelled to fling it away. In other words I think I had got 
to the limit of my endurance, when a halt was called in the 
hod. I dropped under a palm tree with a group of men, 
slipped off my load, and then lay quite still for a long time. 
After a while I had my first drink of water for that day. We 
stayed there some time, and one or two of the men had found 
a well. But it was brackish and the men should not have 
touched it, for it made them worse. Several were knocked out 
altogether by it." 

Word had come through that Katia was unoccupied by 
the enemy, and although it required a tremendous effort 
the battalion got together and proceeded to the final 
destination in column of route. Although not much over 
half a mile those last yards seemed interminable, but in 
course of time we wjere all settled in the cool shade 
of the hod and were speculating about water; a problem 
which seemed to be solved by the arrival of the camels. 
When it was found that no> fantassie was full and many 
were empty it required the utmost exertion of a British 
soldier's good temper to prevent him from killing some 
of the Gyppies who had accompanied them, for it was 
obvious that they had been selling water to men who 
had dropped out of the column. Then we reflected that 
these poor devils needed it badly, so it was hard ,to 
apportion the blame. We wondered, nevertheless, why 
other camels had been detailed to carry on an occasion 
like this, flour, fresh meat (once fresh but now unfit for 
consumption) and candles, when they might have been 
better employed carrying water! Still, we were thankful 
to have achieved our task land although we had lost (more 
than seventy men en route, we were proud to know that 
we had arrived the strongest battalion, some having left 
more than half their effectives on the desert. 



ROMANI AND KATIA. 15 

The day's work was complete when the battalion had 
formed an outpost line well in front of the wood, and 
had dug short section trenches. Through the night 
desultory rifle fire could be heard in front where the 
mounted troops were still in touch with the retiring enemy. 
Next day a serious conflict took place between the cavalry 
and the Turkish rearguard at Oghratina, and rumours 
were prevalent that we had to continue the forward move- 
ment. We were not sorry, however, when it was found 
that we were to remain in Katia. During the succeeding 
days hostile aircraft were very busy, and dropped several 
bombs in the vicinity of the wood, the 52nd Division, who 
were north of us, suffering more severely than ourselves. 

Those not on outpost duty took advantage of the rest 
and made themselves as comfortable as possible. Stakes 
sent up by the R. E. were used for constructing bivouacs, 
but perhaps the palm trees provided as much assistance 
as anything else. Although we had not yet learnt |to 
use the word " camouflage " we knew its meaning, and 
whenever we settled down on the desert we put it into 
use as a protection against inquisitive aircraft. At Katia 
the palm trees gave us all the protection we required in 
this way. 



CHAPTER IT. 

Desert Life. 



ON August 14th the 42nd Division moved back to 
Romani, a further advance across the Sinai Desert 
being deemed inadvisable until the railway and 
water pipe, which stopped a few kilometres beyond Romani, 
had been pushed further ahead. A system of training was 
started, but as the men had not recovered from the fatigue 
of the Katia operations, and the weather was very trying, 
vigorous forms of exercise were given up. A number 
of men went to hospital with a weakening form of 
diarrhoea almost akin to dysentery, while the medical 
authorities were in a highly nervous state about cholera 
of which a few; cases had been reported. It was pre- 
sumed that this had been contracted from the Turkish 
prisoners and their old camping grounds. 

The battalion was augmented slightly at this stage by 
a draft from England, while 2nd-Lt's. W. H. Barratt and 
W. Thorp returned from leave. Lt. H. C. Franklin, M.C., 
one-time R.S.M., went into hospital and was invalided to 
England, and his place as Adjutant was taken by Capt. 
J. R. Creagh, a position he filled admirably for more than 
two years. Captains C. Norbury and B. Norbury left 
the battalion about this time to obtain appointments in 
England and France and this entailed a change in Com- 
pany Commanders. Captains Tinker and Higham con- 
tinued to command " A" and " D " Companies, Lt. H. H. 
Nidd was given " B " Company, and Captain Chadwick 
" C " Company. 2nd-Lt. G. W. Franklin assisted the 
Adjutant in the Orderly Room, while 2nd-Lt. F. Grey 
Burn was employed as " Camel Officer;" new work 
brought about by the substitution of camel for wheeled 



DESERT LIFE. 17 

transport. The bulk of the latter remained at Kantara 
under 2nd-Lt. M. Norbury, with Capt. Ward Jones in 
charge of the Brigade transport; their duties consisting 
chiefly in bringing rations, etc., across the canal from 
the main station on the E.S.R. and loading them on the 
trains which ran over the desert. Wheeled transport 
could not be employed in the desert stations as roads 
had not been constructed. 

We came to know the camel fairly well during the 
succeeding months, and he proved a study, perhaps more 
interesting than his caretaker, a member of the Egyptian 
Camel Corps' distinctive in his long blue garrabea. When 
a company was on duty at a distant outpost the time for 
the arrival of the ration camels was also the signal for 
the ration fatigue to fall in. Then the string of animals 
would leisurely wend their way through the gaps in the 
barb wire, their noses held high in an aristocratic leer, 
each led with a head rope by a blue smocked Gyppie. 
The Q.M.S. would appear : " ' Tala Henna, Walad. Barrac 
Henna ' " and so forth. A wonderful flow of British- 
Arabic, grinningly comprehended by the natives, always 
produces the desired result. The camel gets down in a 
series of bumps and not without cautious glances at his 
head, the men unfasten the complication of ropes and 
commence the work of unloading. Somebody shouts : 
"Mail up!" and this brings out a number of interested 
faces from the entrances to " biwies." After the rations 
have been sorted out, word quickly goes round, " Six to 
a loaf again, and no fresh meat to-day," so everyone 
looks gloomily ahead to the prospect of swallowing 
quantities of bully 'beef and biscuits. Other camels have 
carried up trench and wiring materials, and when all are 
off-loaded they get up wearily and solemnly depart leaving 
the outpost to its solitary existence. If there is only one 
officer he feels his solitude very much, for in spite of 
the camaraderie with the men and particularly the senior 
N.C.O's. there is a feeling of restraint due to the re- 
quirements of military discipline, and he misses the value 
of perfectly free intercourse." 1 

1 Quoted from an Officer's Diary 
c 



18 DESERT LIFE. 

It soon became apparent that an advance across the desert 
in the direction of El Arish was contemplated, and that 
the speed of such an advance would depend upon the 
rate at which the railway and water pipe line could be 
constructed. The function of the troops was to protect 
it from raiders so that work could proceed in comfort, 
a duty shared by the mounted troops and the 52nd and 
42nd Divisions. In September, therefore, the 7th Man- 
chesters left Romani for garrison duty at Negiliat, about 
twenty kilos, further east. About this time Capt. Chad- 
wick, who along with Lt.-Col. Cronshaw, had been 
decorated with the Serbian Order of the White Eagle in 
long delayed recognition of their magnificent work in 
Gallipoli, left the battalion to join the R.F.C. in England 
and France. Capt. Townson succeeded him in the com- 
mand of "C" Company. 

As the health of the desert troops was not good after 
their long strain under the tropical sun, a system of rest 
and holiday cure, suggested by the medical authorities^ 
was begun. Batches of men and officers were sent off 
to Alexandria and encamped at Sidi Bishr, just outside 
the town for a week, during which time they were free 
to do more or less as they pleased, a concession highly 
relished by everyone. The sight of civilisation alone was 
in itself almost a cure, but the change of the surround- 
ings, the lack of military duties, the sea bathing, and the 
enjoyment of everything that dear old " Alex." could 
offer worked wonders. Further, the hot season was draw- 
ing to a close and men began to feel more normal, so 
that by the end of October the troops were as fit as they 
had ever been in their lives. The 127th Brigade were 
withdrawn to Romani whilst this work of recuperation 
was in progress, and the beginning of November saw us 
back again at Negiliat. 

Meanwhile, the mounted troops, closely supported by 
the infantry, kept constant touch with the Turk, When 
the railhead reached the outpost line it was necessary to 
move the enemy by force and to this end engagements 
were fought at Bir el Abd, and at El Mazar, both 
of which resulted in the Turk withdrawing upon El Arish. 




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DESERT LIFE. 19 

His aircraft was always busy, but the bombing' was not 
often effective. Even the natives in the E.L.C. (Egyptian 
Labour Corps) began to grow accustomed to these raids 
and steadily resisted their impulse to dash back along the 
line when a taube was sighted. 

The return from hospital of 2nd-Lt. Jimmy Baker and 
of 2nd-Lt. Joe Chatterton at this time was greeted with 
pleasure by the battalion, and all were interested in the 
arrival of the new Padre, the Rev. E. C. Hoskyns. It 
was not long, however, before he had made himself 
thoroughly well-known to every man who wore the Fleur 
de Lys, and his cheery face Was eagerly welcomed (in 
every " bivvy." During unbroken service with us until 
July, 1 91 8, he maintained a proud record of spontaneous 
popularity with all ranks, and especially with his brother 
officers. 

On the night of November 3rd the eastern climate dis- 
played a side to its character not often revealed. During 
the previous twenty-four hours we had witnessed extra- 
ordinary flashes of lightning, and this was followed by a 
distinct coldness and a few showers of rain in the after- 
noon, a new experience which caused much amusement 
amongst the men. In the evening, however, matters 
ripened, and after a joyous display of heavenly pyro- 
technics and thunder all round the blackening, heavy 
sky, we were subjected to a violent downpour, accom- 
panied by lurid lightning flashes. Tremendous hailstones 
came down, smashing through the few remaining flimsy 
blanket shelters that were still standing, so that we were 
left in our nakedness to bear the full fury of the storm. 
We felt that God's spectacular display on the mountains 
for Elijah's benefit had been at least emulated, but jit 
was the still, small voice that was best appreciated again, 
when it remarked that it was a good job the cooks had 
just finished making " gunfire " or we should never have 
have had a dixie of hot tea to cheer us up in our dis- 
comfort. Although the men had to stand all night; on 
sentry in the outposts in their wet things they took it very 
good-humouredly. 



20 DESERT LIFE. 

A fortnight later the battalion moved forward again 
a few kilometres and constructed new outpost positions 
at Khirba, covering a cavalry post some distance to the 
south. This was necessitated by the fact that the Turk 
was still holding Nekhl in the heart of the Sinai, from 
whence a raiding party could easily strike north to cut 
our communications, for the railway Was now well beyond 
Bir el Abd. When not actually on the outpost line we 
did a good deal of training, and a range having been 
constructed, some useful field firing was accomplished. 
An exciting football competition resulted in "C" Com- 
pany defeating the Sergeants' team and carrying off the 
battalion championship. 

A more elaborate forward move commenced about this 
time, the railway having reached El Mazar, and when a 
Brigade of the 53rd Division arrived to relieve us, we 
began to gird up our loins and prepare for a stiff march. 
We knew, however, that endurance would not be tested 
as in the " Katia Stunt " for the weather was so much more 
favourable. On the morning of December 3rd, having 
reduced our stores to mobile column dimensions, we 
loaded up the long suffering, but grousing camels, and 
marched forth to the cheery strains of a drum and fife 
band, kindly provided by the 10th Middlesex. We 
plugged steadily on through the soft sand and finally 
camped for the night inside the outpost line in front of 
Bir el Abd. Next day the march continued and we 
reached Salmana. We enjoyed nothing better than this 
new activity, and possibly the most delightful part of it 
was the construction of temporary shelters at the end 
of the day's work. Perhaps the most trying part was 
the provision of the usual protection for a column such as 
we were, that is the advance, rear, and flank guards, for 
this often entailed covering a greater distance and en- 
joying less frequent halts. The day following provided a 
new interest. We proceeded through a region of sabkhets, 
which are large flat stretches of hard ground, the remains 
of dried up lagoons, for by this time we were marching 
almost along the coast. These sabkhets were a very 
welcome change from the difficult soft desert sand. Tillul 



21 




22 DESERT LIFE. 

was our destination and we settled down amongst Argyll 
and Sutherland Highlanders of the 52nd Division, who 
had arrived a few days previously. Next morning they 
played us out of the camp with their bagpipes and wfe 
had a good 'stiff march to El Mazar, and there we fell in 
with elements of the other two Brigades. After two 
days' rest we marched out again and occupied a position 
just inside the defensive line, which was then being held 
by the 6th and 8th. 

The battalion remained a few days in this district, and 
when not actually in the outpost line and digging trenches, 
we were taken out in front, a company at a time, to act 
as a protection to the E.L.C. who were engaged upon 
railway construction. Whilst on this work we got our 
first glimpse of El Arish, the goal to be gained after this 
heavy striving across the desert. The Turks were 
supposed to be holding a strong position between our- 
selves and the town, and the idea seemed to be to push 
the railway as far as possible, and then eject the enemy 
so that work could proceed. Our men were thoroughly 
impressed with the wonderful rapidity with which these 
" Gyppies " accomplished their task. They were divided 
up into gangs, each in charge of another native who had 
been raised to the dignity of two stripes and a stick. 
The stick he used freely on the men who failed to keep 
up his standard of work. Using their curious adze-like 
shovels they pulled the sand into baskets and ran away 
with it to where it was required, and whilst they toiled 
a simple but noisy refrain was sung to* the leadership of 
the " Ganger." The whole spectacle presented a seething 
mass of rapidly-moving, blue smocked, brown figures, 
busily working on the bright yellow sand. The result 
of four hours of this sort of thing would produce about 
500 yards of good level track including shallow cuttings 
and embankments. Then the train would arrive with 
more sleepers and rails and these would be carefully but 
quickly laid in position. 

Another job we had to do in this neighbourhood was 
digging wells. When " C " Company went off for a 
couple of days to do this they discovered what a formid- 



DESERT LIFE. 23 

able business it was. It Was necessary to go down to a 
depth of about twenty feet, and as the well was sited in 
very soft sand the task can be imagined. A huge hole, 
about forty feet square had to be made to allow for the 
slope of the sand, and the deeper we went, the higher 
grew the mountains of sand all round the hole, so that 
the men had to be arranged on tiers above one another. 
In this way a shovel full of sand from the bottom 
travelled up through various pairs of hands before it was 
finally thrown clear. This tedious business continued until 
water was struck, and then a corrugated iron frame was 
sunk at the bottom, and the tall sides of the well built upon 
it. After this all the sand that had been so laboriously 
chucked out, was heaved back again. A pump was fixed 
by the R.E. and troughs made along side, to be filled as 
often as the well could furnish sufficient water (in this 
case twice a day) for the use of camels or horses. 

At El Maadan an important railhead was being con- 
structed for the storage of water, which was kept in 
large and small canvas tanks. We took a great personal 
interest in those tanks with our thoughts resting securely 
on Katia. Matters were gradually developing towards 
an engagement of some magnitude, and it Was now known 
that the general scheme was for the mounted troops to 
make a detour in order to turn the enemy's left flank, 
whilst the 42nd and 52nd Divisions would make an 
advance parallel to the coast. That is tot say in effeclt 
the infantry would deliver a frontal attack upon the 
Turkish troops covering El Arish. 

It had been further decided that the 127th Brigade 
together with the 5th East Lancashires would execute 
the first shock of the 42nd's effort, so we had a feeling 
that once again the Fleur de Lys would be "in the lime- 
light." During the evening of December 29th there was 
a rapid and wonderful concentration of troops of all 
arms in the hollow ground near the railhead. The two 
infantry Divisions were there in force, whilst the Austra- 
lian L. H., and N.Z.M.R.j together with th© Yeomanry 
were simply waiting for dusk to move off to their appointed 



24 DESERT LIFE. 

stations. Behind all this preparation there was a curious 
feeling that there was no enemy to fight at all, and 
betting ran high as to whether we should find any Turks 
near El Arish or not. It was suspected in high quarters 
that the enemy had got quietly away a few hours before. 
However, we slept peacefully until 3 a.m. and then 
Company Commanders were summoned to a Conference 
with the CO. to receive orders to get ready at once to 
march — backwards not forwards! The Anzacs carefully 
reconnoitring in the night had finally entered El Arish, 
and saw no one there except the native villagers. So 
" the stunt was a wash-out," the bird had flown. 

The 42nd marched back on December 21st to El 
Mazar, and faint rumours began to drift about that day 
that we were to leave Egypt. General Douglas com- 
miserated with us for not having had the pleasure of a 
good scrap! " But," he said, "never mind lads, you will 
get more than you want very soon." Now, what did 
that mean? Profound speculation as to the probabilities 
can easily be imagined. France, Salonica, trouble in 
India, Mesopotamia and even an advance into Palestine 
(scouted as absurd by most people) were freely discussed. 
The main consideration just at present, however, was 
that the Christmas of 191 6 was going to be spent under 
much pleasanter conditions than the previous one on 
Gallipoli, and concurrent with rumours about fighting 
there were more substantial rumours about turkeys, 
plum puddings and beer. I am glad to say all three 
materialised, and these together with Christmas Carols by 
the divisional band contrived to produce a Yuletide 
feeling. In fact everyone had as good a time as could 
possibly have been expected in the desert. Luckily the 
parcels from home, including comforts from various 
institutions, etc., also arrived in time. El Mazar was our 
abode for more than three weeks, and we heartily wished 
a cleaner piece of ground could have been selected to live 
upon. In past days the Turk had been stationed here in 
force, and he, not being of a sanitary disposition, had 
bequeathed to us a store of body lice of new and large 
dimensions. I don't think the fighting strength of the 



DESERT LIFE. 25 

7th, including all live stock, had ever been so large in 
its history. A delousing apparatus made from an old 
engine and truck was sent up on the railway to cope 
with the problem, and perhaps it had some little effect — 
in helping the young ones to grow quicker. Most men 
were agreed that there was nothing to equal the double 
thumb action for certain results. Another scourge here, 
probably also due to the filthy sand, was the alarming 
development of septic sores. These unpleasant things 
did not require a wound or scratch to start them, but they 
broke out themselves as a small blister on any part of 
the body. In the case of a good many men it took the 
form of impetigo, an extremely uncomfortable sore rash 
on the face, and both officers and men appeared day jafter 
day on parade with appallingly unshaven sore chins, and 
bandages visible on arms or knees, etc. 

During our stay here the news continued to be good. 
On Christmas Eve the mounted troops, not satisfied with 
the Turkish escape from El Arish, suddenly pounced upon 
Maghdaba, about twelve miles further south, up the 
Wadi, and after a short fierce fight destroyed the 
garrison, only a few making their way out of Africa. A 
more brilliant affair, however, was the lightning raid 
upon Rafa, on the border between Sinai and Palestine, 
and about thirty miles beyond El Arish, the starting point 
of the raid. In a few hours a large mounted column, 
consisting chiefly of Anzacs had covered this distance and 
had taken the Turk completely by surprise. The enemy 
put up a stern fight, however, and after his reinforcements 
had been destroyed on the road from Gaza he gave in. 
The prisoners from these engagements continued to have 
the desired effect upon the dissaffected natives in Cairo 
on their arrival there. 

Less was heard about our leaving Egypt after the New 
Year, and rumours received a mortal wound when the 
Division turned its face to the east once more and 
marched up, a Brigade at a time, to El Arish. The 7th 
accomplished this march in three easy stages, the first 
day taking us to Maadan, and the next to Bitia. A few 



26 EL ARISH AND AFTER. 

days' stay here helped us to appreciate its natural advan- 
tages, and as far as the desert went, it almost had pre- 
tensions to beauty. There were glorious palm groves, 
bright clean sand to live in, hard flat stretches for football 
(greatly appreciated), and a roaring sea close at hand on 
a wonderful beach for bathing. If El Arish were* in 
Belgium, Bitia would be " El Arish Bains." The return 
of British power to this corner of the earth was epitomised 
one day in the sight of a Bedouin caravan pursuing its 
peaceful purpose. The old sheik stalked proudly in 
front, while his family and goods were disposed on various 
camels, and a small flock of pretty black goats pattered 
along behind in charge of a sturdy brown lad. Surely 
they at least had witnessed the Turkish retirement with 
satisfaction. 

EL ARISH AND AFTER. 

On January 22nd, 191 7, the 7th Manchesters reached 
their "farthest east" in the final stage of the march to 
El Arish. Most of the day's labours had to be accom- 
plished in a blinding sandstorm, which fortunately had 
subsided when we arrived at our destination. As we 
reached El Arish one had a curious feeling that the canal 
zone was being left well behind, and as far as mileage 
was concerned it certainly Was, since the Suez was one 
hundred miles away. Nevertheless, up to now one had 
felt that really we w*ere on canal defence, and however 
far we went out there had been little change in the 
country so that one hardly seemed to progress. Now,, 
all that had been left behind, and we were amongst new 
scenes. 

This growing impression was completed on our 
arrival. We pitched camp on a hill north-west of the 
town and about six hundred yards from it, so that w'e 
had a perfect view of the place, which resembled a 
picture out of the Bible, and was not quite like anything 
seen in Egypt. It was obvious we were in a new country 
— in fact we were knocking at the gates of Palestine, 
but no one amongst us knew that an entry was to be 



EL ARISH AND AFTER. 27 

made into that country. The affair at Rafa, for instance, 
had only been a raid, and the Turks had once more 
strengthened the place. British territory had been cleared 
of the enemy and it was felt that a system of frontier 
defence would be constructed, and small garrisons left 
to maintain the boundary. 

Eight months had passed since the battalion left the 
vicinity of peaceful civilisation, so to meet it again, crude 
though it was amidst the mud huts of El Arish, filled 
our men with extreme curiosity. The town was placed 
out of bounds because of the fear of cholera, small 
pox, etc., but there was much of interest to be seen. 
Groves of fig trees surrounded the place on the edge of 
the Wadi, and it was a matter for speculation as to 
where they obtained their sustenance for it was 
apparently just bare desert. Vines and date palms were 
also grown, and I presume these, with fishing, constitute 
the main source of life to the inhabitants. The natives, 
incidentally, had a most pleasing appearance, and their 
older men reminded one forcibly of the patriarchs. They 
had a strikingly manly and independent carriage, quite 
different fiom the lack of respectability of the lower class 
Egyptian. There is probably a good deal of Arab blood 
in them, which may account for the fearless manner with 
which they look the foreigner straight in the face. 

We were not surprised when definite orders arrived 
to prepare ourselves for a return to the canal. The 
transport started first for they were to trek the distance, 
while the personnel were to have the pleasure of riding 
on a train. The men accepted this statement rather 
warily for such a thing had seldom been known during 
their experience with the battalion. On January 30th 
all the animals in the Division assembled near our camp 
preparatory to commencing the trek when the aircraft 
alarm was sounded. This was immediately followed by 
eight bombs in quick succession. One of these unfor- 
tunately dropped amidst our transport column killing two 
favourite riders, " Bighead " and "Jester" and destroy- 
ing two or three mules. Fortunately only one man was 
injured, and more luckily still, no bombs dropped in the 



28 EL ARISH AND AFTER. 

camp, although they were near enough to be unpleasant. 
The day's excitement was later heightened by a camel 
going " macknoon " in the middle of the camp. Attack- 
ing his native keeper he broke loose and our men had 
to " run for it." By an ingenious manipulation of ropes 
round his legs, and a well-aimed blow behind his ear 
from a tent mallet flung by one of the men, he was 
subdued and brought to earth, but not before he had 
destroyed a " bivvy " and some tents. Even this did 
not complete the incidents of the day, for evening found 
us clinging with might and main to tent poles, tent cur- 
tains, "bivvy" shelters, etc., while a furious sand storm 
did its utmost to fling them down. 

The next day something of a sensation was caused by 
a sudden order to furnish one officer and two N.C.O's. 
per company as advance party to journey at once to Port 
Said, there to embark on February 2nd for an unknown 
destination. Two days later the battalion entrained in 
" trucks de luxe," and after a nine hours' extremely lumpy 
journey we reached Kantara. There was a feeling that 
having helped to escort the railway to its present destina- 
tion we had really earned that ride. On the journey 
down we met elements of the 53rd Division marching up 
to take our places at El Arish, and we shouted greetings 
and expressions of goodwill to them. At Kantara a 
draft from England with 2nd-Lt. G. Norbury in command 
joined the battalion. A pleasing feature about this draft 
was that it was largely composed of old members of the 
original 7th who had been wounded or invalided from 
Gallipoli, such men as C.S.M. Lyth, Sergeant McHugh, 
Q.M.S's. Andrews and Houghton, being amongst its 
numbers. 

The 42nd Division crossed the Suez Canal for the last 
time on February 5th, twelve months to the day after the 
7th Manchesters had crossed over to the east side a't 
Shallufa for the first time. The first day's march ended 
at El Ferdan, very much to the relief of everyone. We 
had been, all the way, on a good hard road — a new ex- 
perience after the life on the desert — and this brought 
into play muscles of the leg, not used, on the soft sand. 



EL ARISH AND AFTER. 29 

Everyone suffered badly from aching shins and thighs 
and very sore feet, so that next day, when the trek was 
completed to Ismailia on hot, dusty roads many men fell 
out, and we were a weary crew on arrival at Moascax 
Camp. ill 

Our three weeks' stay here was occupied chiefly in pre- 
paring for our new scene of activities, now definitely known 
to be France. Eastern kit was handed in — helmets, shorts 
and drill tunics — and the battalion seemed to have been 
exchanged for a new one dressed in khaki serge and caps. 
With our helmets we lost our flashes, or at least the 
characteristic Fleur de Lys, but they were replaced by a 
divisional flash to be worn on the upper arm of the sleeve 
of the jacket. This was a diamond in shape, each 
Brigade having its own colour, the Manchesters being 
orange yellow, with the number of the battalion indicated 
on it by a red figure. Being close to Lake Timsa, we 
frequently indulged in bathing parades under ideal con- 
ditions, for after all Ismailia is really one of the beauty 
spots of Egypt. Complimentary farewell parades were 
held, one on the occasion of the visit of General D obeli, 
and the other a march past the C.-in-C, Sir Archibald 
Murray, down the Quai Mehemet Ali in the town. Alto- 
gether the 7th enjoyed themselves during these days and 
made the most of the end of their long sojourn in the 
East. We were seasoned troops and were well con- 
versant with the customs of the country. A few pangs of 
regret at leaving these things behind can easily be under- 
stood, although an important consideration, and one that 
weighed heavily with the men, was the possibility of 
getting leave from France, a thing unknown in this place. 
Hence it was with mixed feelings that the battalion 
boarded the train at Ismailia on the evening of March 
1 st for a rapid journey to Alexandria. No time was lost 
here for we detrained on the quay side and embarked 
at once. 



CHAPTER III. 

For France. 



WEARERS of the Fleur de Lys gazed their last 
upon one of the countries of their toils from the 
deck of the ship "Kalyan" as they steamed out of 
Alexandria harbour on March 3rd, 191 7. There were many 
present who had accompanied the battalion on their 
venture from this same harbour nearly two years before, 
to try their fortunes upon ill-starred Gallipoli, and I 
have no doubt they wondered what these new experiences 
would bring them. One thing is certain, however, and 
that is no one imagined we should be compelled to 
continue our wanderings for full two more years before 
the last journey home could be made. And yet, so it 
was. The Fleur de Lys, for the first time since it had 
been adopted by the Manchester Regiment, was borne to 
the soil of France, the country that gave it birth, and 
whose kings wore it proudly for hundreds of years, by 
Englishmen who had pledged themselves to fight in and 
for that fair land. " Fair Landl " I hear someone scorn- 
fully mutter. However much we were destined in the 
days to come, when wallowing to our waists amidst the 
soil and water of France, to think very much the reverse, 
it would be impossible to forget the glory of our Southern 
entrance to this sad country. 

The battalion made the trip across the Mediterranean 
in good company, for the ship was shared by ourselves 
and the 8th Manchesters (the Gallant Ardwicks) com- 
manded by Lt.-Col. Morrough. We had an opportunity 
of renewing our acquaintance with Malta, so vivid in its 
intense colouring, whilst our escort of torpedo boats was 
changed. Perhaps the following extract from an officer's 



FOR FRANCE. 31 

diary will suffice to epitomise whatever incident there 
was in the journey: — 

" . . . . It was more or less boisterous all the way, and on occasion 
decidedly so — a vastly different voyage from my journey out. 
The much-vaunted German submarine 'blockade' was not con- 
spicuous, for we neither saw nor heard of a submarine. Un- 
doubtedly, of course, one is conscious of the menace, and a good 
deal of what might be enjoyment of the sea is spoiled by this 
horror. One thinks not of the sea as inspiration of sublime 
thoughts and all things the poets tell us of, but as a receptacle for 
submarines .... and for us if we are hit. It was decidedly dis- 
concerting to contemplate a dip during the heavy weather. There 
would be little chance of being picked up I should imagine. Still, 
we were able to appreciate the colours of Malta, the grand 
snow-capped mountains of Corsica and the neighbouring islands, 
while the entrance to Marseilles is a sight I shall never forget. 
For colour and form I think it is perfect. In a sense Plymouth 
resembles it, but as a cat the tiger. Here the rocks run down in 
their limy whiteness sheer to the sea, with chateaux and churches 
on impossible peaks, backed by tremendous stern giants. Why 
will they not allow us on shore to get a closer view ? . . . . Just 
above my head the men are concluding a concert with the 'King,' 
the 'Marseillaise' (I wonder do they appreciate that here it was 
first sung in its grandeur under Rouget de Lisle), and then with 
what should be our national song, ' Rule Britannia.' Well might 
they sing that with zest after the voyage we have concluded 
to-day." 

After standing out in the harbour at Marseilles for 
24 hours, we first set foot in France on March 10th. No 
time was wasted at Marseilles, and we were soon entrained 
for a long journey northward. In the first hours before 
dark we were able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the 
coast region near Marseilles. At Orange we halted for a 
meal at midnight. Next day was a glorious journey up 
the Rhone Valley, passing through Lyons, Chalons-sur- 
Saone and Dijon. Wherever the train stopped crowds 
of enthusiastic French people collected to greet us and 
the news of the fall of Bagdad made us doubly impor- 
tant to them, for not only were we British but they knew 
we had come from somewhere in the East. 



32 FOR FRANCE. 

The following morning we arrived at the environs of 
Paris, and after a stay at Juvissy continued our journey 
past Versailles and on through Amiens to our destination 
at Pont Remy, a few miles from Abbeville. It was 
pitch dark and raining. Imagine the shock to troops 
straight from Egypt, where they had left a beautiful dry 
climate, when they jumped out of the carriages into four 
inches of squelching mud. Then we were told we had to 
march six or seven miles through the cold rain to our 
billeting area at Merelissart. However, we were amongst 
new surroundings and new modes of doing things, and 
conditions were vastly different from those we had just 
left, so the sooner we became accustomed to them the 
better. | j ' : 

Despite the midnight hour everyone found subject for 
fun in the French barns and shippons which were to be 
our temporary homes. Lt. Hodge and Lt. Taylor who 
had worked hard allotting the billets for us joined the 
battalion here. Lt. Sievewright had rejoined us at Alex- 
andria on the boat, he having been invalided to England 
from Gallipoli. Lt. G. Harris left to take charge of a 
Divisional Bombing School, and ended his service with 
the battalion, although later he became the Brigade In- 
telligence Officer, when we saw a good deal of him again. 

After three days the battalion moved back to Liercourt 
and there the work of refitting commenced. We had 
much to learn about organisation and methods of warfare 
as practised in France, and vigorous training was com- 
menced at once. 

Major- General Sir W. Douglas left the division, and 
his successor, Major-General Mitford, lost no time in 
getting us ready for the line. Just at this time, and whilst: 
Col. Cronshaw and other officers and N.C.O's. were up 
in the line for instruction, the German retirement on the 
Somme and the Ancre to the Hindenburg line took place. 
As soon as brigades were fitted out they lost no time in 
moving forward into the war zone, commencing with the 
Lanes. Fusiliers. At the end of March the 127th brigade 
entrained for Chuignes and from there the 7th marched 
forward to Dompierre, which had been the scene of such 



FOR FRANCE. 33 

heavy fighting by the French in 191 6. We thus got our 
first impressions of the devastated area of France, and 
I am sure there was not a mind in the battalion into 
which these impressions did not sink deep. The misery 
of it was by no means diminished when we arrived at 
our destination, for accommodation had to be found amidst 
impossible ruins and in the scattered half-destroyed dug- 
outs amongst the trenches which criss-crossed the village. 
All this had to be done in pouring rain. When at last 
we settled down it was found that our new; homes were 
also shared by huge rats who capered about in a most 
homely manner. 

Dompierre was our abode for a few days whilst the 
battalion made daily excursions through the mud in the 
direction of Villers Carbonel to execute road making 
fatigues. Major Scott concluded his long period of 
active service with the battalion about this time, being 
invalided to England. His place at the Q.M. Stores was 
later filled by Lt. Rose of the R.W.F's. After this period 
we moved into Peronne, and were installed in more com- 
fortable dwellings, for although the town had been badly 
knocked about, it was possible to find more or less good 
cover for troops. The great boon here was the plentiful 
supply of timber from the destroyed houses, and every 
group of men had its roaring fire. The battalion and 
indeed the brigade was still on fatigue, repairing roads, 
railways, bridges, etc. Meanwhile the division had made 
its debut in France, the 125th and 126th brigades having 
taken over part of the line during the pursuit of the Hun. 

The 7th suffered their first casualty in the new theatre 
of war at Peronne in a rather unfortunate manner. Whilst 
on a fatigue of salving telephone wire on the battle-swept 
ground of Biaches, just outside the town, Pte. Gibson of 
" C " company was accidently killed by a bomb, whose 
explosive mechanism he had unwittingly set in action 
when pulling up the wire. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Holding the Line. 

EPEHY. 

ON April 27th, our period of fatigues ended, the 
7th Manchesters marched out of Peronne in the full 
panoply of war, not gaudy, but serviceable for 
modern requirements and not lacking the element of weight, 
with the certain knowledge that their next deeds would be 
accomplished "in the presence of the enemy." The 
enemy of 191 7 and after was not so elusive as the Turk 
of the Sinai, so there was no possibility of marching on 
and on and never feeling his force! That night was 
spent at Villers Faucon, and next day preparations were 
completed for relieving the 4th East Lanes, in the 
front line trenches east of Epehy. An advance party of 
an officer and a few N.C.O's. per company had been sent 
forward to learn dispositions and other information about 
the line, and the thousand and one minute details about 
rations, tools, Lewis guns, water, guides, intervals between 
platoons and sections, etc., etc., had all been dealt with 
when we got on the move once more in the early evening. 
Everyone expected to take over trenches such as we 
had in Gallipoh or had read about, but we were rather 
staggered to find that the battalion front was not vastly 
different from the outpost positions we had made on the 
desert. This is explained by the fact that the front was 
just in process of solidifying from the liquid state as a 
result of the German recent retirement to a safe position. 
The enemy therefore looked calmly down upon us from 
his elaborate Hindenburg system of trenches beyond 
Vendhuile whilst we expanded our isolated outposts into 
organised continuous lines. He himself, however, was 
also busy digging a sort of outpost work in advance of 



EPEHY. 35 

the main line of defence, for he had held up any further 
British advance principally from a bulwark of land mass 
called the Knoll on the western side of the canal, while 
his main line was really on the eastern side. 

Because of the disjointed condition of the front 
there was always a danger, when going from one 
company to another, of men wandering into the Boche 
lines. This unfortunately did occur one night to a 
couple of men of the 7th who had to make their way 
with L. G. ammunition from the Quarry to the Diamond 
(a forward isolated redoubt) for they struck a wrong 
direction and walked into a hail of enemy bullets. One 
was killed and the other wounded. Pte. (afterwards 
L.-Cpl.) Summers and Pte. Johns distinguished themselves 
on this occasion, for, realising what had happened, they 
volunteered to go out and recover the men. After being 
away for more than two hours, constantly sniped by an 
obviously-startled enemy they found them and were able 
to bring back the wounded man. Unfortunately this 
deed *was not recognised by the higher authorities or they 
would have been the first to have won distinction for 
the battalion in France. 

Little Priel Farm came in for a good deal of hatred by 
the Boche, and the variations in its contour was a daily 
source of interest to the troops in the vicinity. The 
battalion observers in the innocence of their hearts and 
the zeal born of the new opportunities to! put their train- 
ing into practice, selected the corner of the garden for 
an O.P. and just as things were growing interesting in the 
field of view of the telescope, the Hun instituted a "certain 
liveliness " of a different sort. Repetitions of this 
sort of thing convinced the observers that no useful 
purpose could be served by staying there, so they left — 
fortunately without mishap — and they were eager to 
inform the I.O. that their new position was infinitely 
superior to Little Priel Farm I It was in this vicinity that 
Pte. Wilbraham was killed by a shell. This news sad- 
dened the whole battalion, for he was our champion light- 
weight boxer, and we had been entertained many a time 
on the desert by his clever exhibitions. 



36 EPEHY. 

There was naturally a good deal of digging tc be done 
in this sector, and although relieved eventually in the 
front positions by the 5th, the battalion found itself 
up in the line each night making continuous trenches. 
It was in connection with this work that we lost our 
brigadier, General Ormsby. On the night of May 1st, 
he, with a number of R.E. officers, was examining the 
position near Catelet Copse when the Boche suddenly 
started a short hurricane bombardment. The trench he 
was in was only waist deep, and soldier and leader to the 
end he disdained to take full advantage of the scanty 
shelter, preferring to set an example of calmness and 
steadiness under fire to> his men. A piece of shell struck 
him in the head and he died almost immediately. This 
was a great blow to the brigade, just at the commence- 
ment of their adventure in the new warfare. It was sadly 
remarkable, too, that he himself was the first officer 
casualty in his brigade. A few days later, during which 
time Lt.-Col. Darlington of the 5th assumed command, 
the new brigadier arrived — General Henley, D.S.O. — 
and we were fortunate to keep him as our Commander 
until the ,end of the war. The brilliant record of the 
127th brigade in France is testimony to his qualities as 
a leader, and it was not very long before every man and 
officer in the Manchesters was proud of him. General 
Ormsby always remained, however, as a tender memory 
to those who had served under him. 

Villers Faucon, which had been the rear H.Q. and 
transport lines was invaded by battalion H.Q. and two 
companies when the battalion moved back into reserve, 
but we did not stay long here, because the 126th brigade 
required assistance in the completion of their trench 
system in front of Templeux, and to do this we had to 
move into the quarries in that district. The other two 
companies carried out similar work in the vicinity of 
Lempire and Ronssoy. There was very little of interest 
during the succeeding days after which the brigade 
moved out to Roisel prior to accompanying the division 
to the Havrincourt sector of the front. 



HAVRINCOURT. 37, 

HAVRINCOURT. 

At the end of May the battalion marched out with the 
remainder of the brigade from Roisel and in one day 
reached their destination behind the Havrincourt Wood 
sector. We there remained for a short period in the 
region of Ytres and Fins. Little time was lost in the 
necessary preliminaries and we relieved a battalion of 
the Duke of Cornwall's L.I. of the 21st division in support 
in the wood. " D " company were early unfortunate and 
suffered a number of casualties from heavy shelling on 
the shallow trenches which they manned near the western 
edge of the Wood. The enemy had noted the continued 
movement in this vicinity, and suddenly decided to, pay 
attention to it in the usual manner. This spot was 
always remembered afterwards as " Where ' D ' Company 
were shelled/' 

Conditions at Havrincourt were rather different from 
those at Epehy, although the same characteristics due to 
recent consolidation still prevailed. It was more inter- 
esting, however, and in many senses more " livable," a 
word of deep meaning on the Western front I In the 
British lines — the canal, the slag-heap (or more correctly 
slag-heaps) and the wood dominated all other land- 
marks. The canal, a portion of the Canal du Nord, was 
in course of construction at the outbreak of war, and 
its deep, well-laid bed is one of the engineering wonders 
of this part of France. At Havrincourt it first runs west 
to east and then sharply bends to the north towards 
Moeuvres past Hermies. The left of the 42nd divisional 
front rested on the bend, after running over a huge chalk 
and limestone slag-heap which stands at the corner. 
Going southwards the line roughly skirted the eastern 
edge of the wood which lies upon a slope facing the east. 
Before their retirement, the Germans had cut down all 
trees on this forward slope, some said in order to make 
use of the timber, others for tactical reasons^ so as to 
leave us exposed to view. I should say both reasons 
weighed heavily with them, but principally the latter, for 
it was noticeable that the woods in their own lines had 
not been so denuded. Havrincourt village lay behind 



38 HAVRINCOURT. 

the enemy's front line on a ridge that dominated our 
own positions. Further beyond were Flesquieres, 
Marcoing, Premy Chapel and Ribecourt, where the main 
line of resistance of the Hindenburg system could be 
plainly seen, while further over to the left on the highest 
ground was Bourlon Wood, which was to become so 
famous in the history of the British army. Every day 
the battalion observers watched parties of Germans, 
large and small, working on these rear trenches 
apparently quite unconcerned about the fact that they 
could be plainly seen. Periodically our air service issued 
aeroplane photographs showing the extraordinary de- 
velopment of these trenches, their elaborate construction, 
the concrete dugouts, and solid rows of heavy barbed 
wire, until it almost came to be recognised that an assault 
upon them would only be attempted by the maddest of 
leaders, and the prospect of having to take part in it 
took one's breath away. 

The chief job of the battalion was to guard by day, 
and get command of by night, the large extent of No 
Man's Land which varied from 400 to about 1,200 yards 
across. The day work wfas easy, but at night it was 
fraught with quite interesting possibilities. The Boche 
was not very inimical here, and seemed anxious to lull 
us into a feeling of peace and security so that, I suppose. 
he could get safely on with his digging, for he had still 
a good deal to do. His outbursts of shelling, therefore, 
although at times disagreeable, gave one the impression 
that its chief purpose Was to remind us of his constant 
presence. At times, especially in the evening, it seemed 
to afford 'him amusement to dust our lines indiscriminately 
with gas shells. Our gunners, however, were not so 
lenient and they frequently made excellent use of their 
good ration of ammunition, so that we were able to 
make daily notes of the changes in the scenery, particu- 
larly in Havrincourt village. Considerable interest was 
aroused one morning, soon after our arrival, by the 
sudden disappearance of Havrincourt Chateau in a cloud 
of red brick dust and smoke. This was always a mystery 
and a frequent source of controversy. Did the Boche 



IIAVRINCOURT. 39 

blow it up, and if so, why ? Or did it go off as a result 
of our shelling, and again, if so, why ? Some said they 
saw stretcher-bearers moving about amidst the debris 
afterwards, which rather indicated the second theory. 

We enjoyed the advantages of a continuous front line 
here, but naturally a good deal of time had to be spent 
in perfecting the system, both in digging and wiring. The 
brigade was given an opportunity of leaving its mark on 
the war-geography of France, two copses in No Man's 
Land being dubbed " Wigan Copse " and " Dean Copse " 
by the 5th, while we were responsible for " Manchester 
Trench " and " Cheetham Hill," " Henley Lane " serving 
to keep green the memory of the brigadier. Two great 
chalk craters showed up in front, "Etna" and "Vesuvius" 
respectively, and one of the jobs of the patrol commanders 
by night was to find out if the former was occupied by 
the Hun. We very soon found that it was, and 
that he appeared to use this and the two copses as 
starting points for his patrols. Thus, when our parties 
went out at night, the possibility of an encounter in No 
Man's Land was never remote, and indeed there were a 
few clashes of this sort. It was all a great education 
for the battalion, for such work as this had not often 
come our way in the Gallipoli days, and there had been 
no opportunity of practising it since. It was considered 
advisable to get as many officers and men as possible 
out on patrol at some time or other, for there was a 
noticeable difference in a man's morale, and in his attitude 
towards trench life, once he had returned from such an 
adventure. He was conscious of having in a way asserted 
his manhood — more than his pal who had not been out — 
and the dim uncertainty of what there might be in front 
of our wire had gone. He knew now what was there — 
nothing. He was acquainted with the ground in such a 
way that if the enemy did wish to attack he knew exactly 
where he could get him with Lewis gun, rifle or bombs. 
A spirit of confidence was thus engendered in the whole 
battalion, as was eventually shown when a few ventured 
out on patrol in broad daylight, and obtained some very 
useful results. 



40 HAVRINCOURT. 

Realistic gas drill was indulged in occasionally at 
night because the enemy had an irritating habit of putting 
over a few rounds of gas, either shell or T.M., at irregular 
intervals. He caught out a few of the East Lanes, by 
this trick, which naturally produced a state of "wind" 
in the division so that everyone was more than ever 
" gas alert." After a few nights of gas alarm, in the 
middle of one of which the transport officer had to com- 
mandeer a fatigue party (in gas helmets) to extricate a 
full water-cart from a shell-hole, most of us became 
" fed up." Another night someone imagined he felt the 
pineapple smell of the type of gas the Hun then used, 
and the alarm was passed along the front trench. One 
of the officers on duty was determined to make sure this 
time, and stopped the passing of the message. He made 
his way along the trench where the men by this time had 
assumed their gas helmets, until he came to one stolid, 
oldish man who was on sentry, staring truculently out in 
front without his gas protection on. " Jones," said the 
officer, "can you smell pineapples?" "What, sir," he 
grunted, " I could if I had a tin of 'em under my nose! " 
One night, while we were in support to the 5th, one 
of their officers, in charge of a patrol sent out to investi- 
gate the ground around " Wigan Copse," got into the 
Copse and discovered a Boche post there. The startled 
enemy had apparently made off. The next night the 
7th took over the front line at an unfortunate moment. 
for the Hun had decided that " Wigan Copse " must be 
"retaken" at all costs, and they began the business with 
a barrage all over the place but particularly on our front 
line, just as we were beginning the relief. It was decidedly 
unpleasant, and we had no idea what it was about until 
we heard the brutes cheering as they rushed into the 
empty copse. From a report which we captured later we 
found that this was another addition to their long list of 
" victories," and I have no doubt that a few iron crosses 
were doled out to commemorate the occasion. 

After three and a half weeks' continuous duty in and 
around Havrincourt Wood the battalion moved out for 
a week's rest to Ruyaulcourt in brigade reserve. It was 



HAVRINCOURT. 41 

a pleasant diversion and we made the most of the glorious 
weather with football matches and very successful sports, 
the latter largely taking the form of comic dress contests. 

The affair of " Wigan Copse," and the constant patroll- 
ing activity exercised by ourselves and the 5th in that 
direction had induced a lively interest in this spot, until 
finally it was decided to raid it, and the 7th were selected to 
do the job. As this was the first effort of this nature 
attempted in the division there was naturally a good deal of 
anxiety as to the result. The 8th were to co-operate with a 
diversion on " Dean Copse," and if possible, of course, 
they also were to obtain prisoners. " C " Company (Capt. 
Townson's) were honoured by the CO. in having to supply 
the raiding party of 40 men, and 2nd-Lt. Hodge was put 
in charge. His qualities as a leader, and his expert 
knowledge in bayonet fighting left him undisputed as 
the officer most fitted for the business. He took his 
men off to Ruyaulcourt, when we had gone into the line 
again, and there trained them vigorously " over the 
tapes " for the task in hand. Each time he took them 
" over " they were inspired to a fiercer zest for the blood 
of Boche, so that when they returned to the Slag Heap 
on the night of July 2nd every man was primed up like a 
fighting cock. 

Careful reconnaissance during the preceding nights, 
and long scrutiny by day through telescopes and field 
glasses left no doubt as to the weak spot in the Hun 
armour. He had placed low wire in front of the copse but 
had no protection on the flanks. A track leading from 
the front line showed how his men moved up to occupy 
this outpost position and also the probable route taken 
by patrols. As it also seemed evident that the copse was 
held at night only, the plan of the raid was obviously to 
give the enemy ample time to settle down in the outpost, 
and then dispose the raiding party so as to strike in on 
an exposed flank. The western side was selected, because 
there was little or no danger from the canal, and it left 
the 8th a free hand to deal with " Dean Copse." 
At the appointed time our men filed quietly along and 
got into position across the track without any alarm being 



42 HAVRINCOURT. 

raised. Lewis guns were posted at one or two points to 
cut off retreating Huns. At 1.8 a.m. exactly, our guns 
opened fire, not upon the copse of course, but upon the 
enemy main lines. A remarkably good and accurate 
barrage was put down on the German front line, which 
formed a crescent within which lay the two copses, 
especially on known M.G. positions; while, by request, 
the Australian heavy guns from the next divisional sector 
northwards joined in with crumps on strong points behind 
the front line. Simultaneously the raiding party leaped up 
and rushed into the copse like howling dervishes. Some 
hours of a deathly, eerie silence, the nerve-racking quality of 
which is only known to those who have experienced it, and 
made all the more impressive by the fact that it occurred 
on a front which is not usually quiet, was followed by a 
sudden din and an unexplained mad charge of the hated 
English. It must have put the fear of God into the 
Germans of " Wigan Copse," for they made no effort to 
resist and tried to " run for it." In fact one poor devil — 
a youngster — who had been lying out in the grass on 
sentry (but must have been doing his work rather badly) 
got up and ran with our men. Hodge noticing his 
unusual headgear, seized him by the scruff of the neck 
and flung him bodily, rifle and everything, back to his 
men. No one wanted him at the moment, for the " fun " 
in the copse had to be encountered yet, and he went from 
hand to hand until one of the covering parties took him 
in charge. 

Two more prisoners were secured on the edge! of the 
copse. Several other Germans who offered resistance 
were bayonetted while Hodge shot one or two with 
his revolver. Then it was discovered that the Hun 
had not left himself so badly protected as we had thought. 
Interlaced among the branches and shrubs at about five 
feet from the ground were strands of barbed wire which 
caused a few nasty cuts and scratches on the faces of 
some of our men. It was found to be impossible to go 
through the copse because of this, but Hodge had good 
reason to be satisfied with the night's work. He had 
secured his toll of prisoners as ordered, without sustaining 



HAVRINCOURT. 43 

a single casualty, and had inflicted other casualties on the 
enemy, for his men had emptied rifles and Lewis guns 
at the few flying Boche and into the copse, so he gave the 
word to withdraw. The men had crawled out at the beginn- 
ing like fighting cocks, but they came back like roaring 
lions. They were naturally in a great state of excitement, 
because it was their first venture of this sort, and it had 
been crowned, after a glorious five minutes' rough and 
tumble, with unqualified success. 

2nd-Lt. Hodge was decorated with the Military 
Cross for this feat — the first M.C. in the division in 
France — and this was really the beginning of a brilliant 
career for him as a soldier. He was eventually trans- 
ferred as a Company Commander to the 5th East Lanes, 
with whom he obtained the D.S.O. From there he pro- 
gressed to Major with the L.F's., and finally finished the 
war as Commanding Officer of the 8th Manchesters, lead- 
ing back the cadre of that battalion to Ardwick Green 
in March, 1919. He is unreservedly one of the officers 
whom the Fleur de Lys are proud to claim. 

Sgt. McHugh and Ptes. McLean and Braithwaite 
received Military Medals on this occasion, and they also 
were glad to know that they opened the long list ,of 
decorations that the battalion was to obtain in France. 

I have spent some little time on this " Wigan Copse " 
raid because it is an important event in the history of 
the battalion. The 7th Manchesters never looked back 
after that show, and they held up their heads in the 
proud consciousness that they had attempted a good 
thing and had achieved it. It gave them confidence — for 
there was a reputation to live up to, and all felt that they 
could not possibly fail once a job was begun. And 
so it was. Nothing the battalion ever touched in future 
went wrong, and there has been no incident in the war 
which the 7th need look back upon with remorse or regret. 

Another important event in our life at Havrincourt 
was the digging of a new front line about 500 yards in 
advance of the old one along almost the whole of the 
divisional front. The 5th, being the collier battalion, 
achieved their part of the business on the Slag Heap, 



44 HAVRINCOURT. 

while the 7th and 6th worked on their right. The 
first night was a great success, there was not a whisper 
of protest from the Boche, and we had cut through an 
almost continuous line, adequately protected by concer- 
tina barbed wire, and particularly strengthened at various 
points where posts had to be held during the next day. 
The enemy must have rubbed his eyes rather vigorously 
next morning when he saw what had been accomplished 
during one night. However, he soon began to register on 
the new trench, and unfortunately an isolated tree (Cauli- 
flower Tree) helped him in this work. We were not 
surprised therefore to have our labours frequently inter- 
rupted on the next night's digging by violent displays of 
wrath accompanied by pyrotechnics. One of these was 
particularly spectacular, eliciting from a digger the 
remark: "Wouldn't Jennison be damned jealous if he 
was here now ! " 

Rumours increased about going out for Divisional rest, 
until elements of the 58th (2nd line London Territorial) 
division began to appear and make reconnaissances of 
the front, from which we augured good. One of their 
C.O's. on being told that we had arrived in France in 
March, was quite delighted, and said he had been searching 
the British Army for troops who had come out after 
they did. They arrived a month before us — but from 
England I Nothing pleased Col. Cronshaw better, 
and he carefully led him through the exploits of the 
42nd from the day they sailed from England in Sep- 
tember, 1914. The London CO. left the dug-out with a 
more or less chastened countenance, and I presume he 
still continued his search. 

July 8th was our last day at Havrincourt, and although 
we were glad at the time for the promise of a respite 
from trench duties, we have since frequently looked 
back on those sunny days with great pleasure, for by 
comparison it was a " bon front," and picturesque withal, 
which can hardly be said about any other sector we 
learned to know. The light railway was utilised again 
to take the battalion to Ytres, and after a night there we 
marched first to Barastre, and then to Achiet le Petit, 
beyond Bapaume. 



ACHIET. 45 

ACHIET. 

The 127th brigade resided under canvas about the 
battered village of Achiet le Petit on patches of ground 
not too incommoded by shell holes. The war had passed 
comparatively lightly over this portion of France, but a 
short walk westward took one to the battle-scarred fields 
of the fierce Somme fighting, and this was useful to us 
for we could pay visits to these districts to learn something 
of modes of battle in those days. One day, the Brigadier 
took a number of officers to Thiepval and recorded his 
own personal experiences of the fighting around there. 
On another occasion a brigade scheme took place en 
the famous Gommecourt trenches. We little guessed in 
those days that we should actually be fighting for our 
lives in those same trenches in less than twelve months. 
It seemed as though the tide of war had rolled over this 
ground for ever, and that the very earth would cry out 
if it were to hear again the shrieking and tearing of 
shells that came to wound it. 

Intensive training was the order of the day, and 
realising that we had still much to learn the work was 
seriously taken up. The men came from Lancashire, 
the division had been sorely tested by fire in Gallipoli, 
and by endurance in the Sinai, so that hard work 
under able leadership was all that was required to 
uphold the flag of achievement which had yet received no 
stain. As the days wore on, and we had almost forgotten 
our trench activities at Havrincourt, rumours began to 
float once more about an early move, and this move was 
to be connected with a big stunt coming off soon " up 
north." At any rate no one disputed the suggestion that 
our next contact with the enemy would probably be of 
a more serious nature than the last. 

Let it not be supposed, however, that these rather 
sordid thoughts occupied our minds completely whilst 
we remained at Achiet. Officers and men took full 
advantage of the period of rest, and the weather for- 
tunately was exactly suited to enjoyable life under canvas. 
The thing of the moment only concerned us, and this 
was more often than not an important football match 



46 ACHIET. 

with" another battalion, a game of cricket, a sports day, 
a visit to the divisional concert troupe — " Th' Lads" — 
who gave some very good shows about this time. Box- 
ing was a great thing, and Pte. Finch, who was, poor 
chap, killed and buried in this spot the following March^ 
knocked out all comers in the divisional heavyweight. 
Some of these events took place in a huge crater, which 
had been transformed into a sort of Roman amphitheatre, 
produced by the blowing up of a large and deep German 
heavy ammunition dump. In the divisional sports also, 
the officers proved that they were at least the most able- 
bodied in the 42nd by winning the Tug-o'-War cup. 

On the whole, we look back to the weeks at Achiet as 
a period of solid training, plenty of " Spit and Polish," 
but "lots of fun." On the 1st of August we got word of 
the big offensive at Ypres amidst all that disastrous 
rain, and we expected to move up there any day. It 
was not until three weeks later, however, that we did 
move, and then it was known definitely that we were for 
Flanders. The battalion marched down to Aveluy, 
near Albert, on an enervatingly hot day and remained 
one night in huts there. The next night they entrained 
and proceeded to Poperinghe in Belgium, and so added 
another country to the list of those they visited during 
the war. 



CHAPTER V. 

Belgium. 



YPRES. 

YPRES ! That wonderful place, the sound of whose 
name makes the heart of the Englishman at home 
glow with pride, but makes the soldier, friend or 
foe, shudder at the mere recollection. It was the scene 
of much stern work, and if Belgium has been dubbed 
the Cockpit of Europe, surely the " Salient " was the 
cockpit of cockpits. More men lie buried in that small 
patch of ground than one cares to think about, and when 
instances of the unreasonableness and veritable folly of 
war are cited from other fronts, they can always be 
equalled by experiences at Ypres. 

In many respects, however, the 7th were lucky in this 
sector, for we did not actually go over the top during 
our stay. Other units of the division carried out 
what would be termed minor operations (which are any- 
thing but minor operations to the people concerned), but 
the 7th escaped any such work. So far as we were con- 
cerned it was a continuation of line-holding, but under 
vastly new conditions. It would be useful, perhaps, to 
indicate the nature of these conditions. 

As all the world knows the third battle of Ypres com- 
menced on the 31st July, 191 7, preceded by a terrific 
concentrated bombardment of the Hun positions lasting 
about ten days. The effect of this bombardment was to 
obliterate all signs of life on that part of the earth, with 
the exception of a few horrible, naked, and shattered 
trees. Nothing green was visible anywhere. In fact 
the land looked as though it had been a very choppy 
earth-brown sea suddenly frozen to stillness. Everywhere 



48 YPRES. 

was shell-holes, shell-holes, shell-holes — large and small. 
Only by careful searching could one ascertain where 
enemy trenches had been. Dotted about over this terrain 
were the Hun " pill-boxes," concrete shelters in which 
the enemy had made their last machine gun fight. 
Whereas at one time they had been skilfully concealed 
from view, they were now standing stark above the 
ground which had been torn away from them. Some of 
the pill-boxes, indeed, had been smashed in by direct 
hits from the heavies, so deadly had been our gun fire 
during those ten days. 

The opening of the British offensive had brought bad 
luck with regard to weather. The men had gone over in a 
terrific downpour of rain, so that all the advantage lay with 
the defences. The tanks had struggled wonderfully with the 
appalling conditions, but the ground was against them, 
and most of them were " ditched " before they were 
knocked out. A few, however, had got well ahead, until 
they were out of action, and it hardly required field 
glasses to be able to distinguish them within the enemy's 
lines, now functioning, by the cruelty of fate, as German 
pill-boxes and sniper-posts. Such was the salient in the 
early days of September when the 42nd went up to take 
over the " line." 

It was ascertained that we were to relieve the 15th 
division, a most excellent division consisting chiefly of 
highlanders of the New Armies. They had fought over 
this ground in the first days of the offensive, and after 
a short rest had come back again to help to hold the 
positions taken and to initiate " minor " operations. They 
were situated astride the Potijze Road, due east of Ypres, 
and that is where the advance parties from each battalion of 
the division found them. The first impression was : " What 
a contrast with Havrincourt! " It was the exact anti- 
thesis in every respect. This was a country where the 
desire to kill and destroy had developed to an 
unimaginable intensity. Nothing of use was to be left 
by either side, and every yard of ground almost was 
searched by the gunners to carry out their cruel game. 



YPRES. 49 

As evidence of the meaning and determination of the 
business the 18-pounders were packed axle to axle amongst 
the mud and shell holes, ready to bark forth their loud 
defiance to the Hun. The 4-5 howitzers were visible in 
batches at various places. Further back, but still closely 
packed were the 6-inch howitzers, the 60-pounders, and the 
heavier calibre guns. The huge, ever popular 15-inch 
and large naval guns lay beyond Ypres, and were not 
for the eyes of the ordinary infantryman, but evidences 
of their sound work would be found when the advance 
continued. It required very little imagination to picture 
the German guns similarly placed and in similar numbers, 
for this offensive had alarmed the enemy, for did it not 
threaten the existence of their submarine bases in Bel- 
gium, to say nothing of their hold upon Lille ? His 
defence was careful, however, as we found to our cost, 
and, however much the papers at home kept up the morale 
of England by sneers at the " pill-box," the soldier on 
the spot regarded it with extreme caution and respect. 
After all they were the only things that stood the test of 
this bashing method of fighting and their very existence, 
when everything else was destroyed, was ample proof of 
the fact. Tacticians from the highest general to the platoon 
sergeant tried hard to discover the most effective and 
least costly manner of " dealing with a pill-box," and 
the highest in the land eagerly snatched at ideas from the 
man out of the line if they bore the scent of feasibility 
about them. 

One never knew if it was in pursuit of the solution of 
these tactical problems that the higher command per- 
sisted during those sad August and early September days 
in their policy of " minor " operations. Certainly no 
part of the salient was ever at rest. Local attacks were 
launched here, there and everywhere, but comparatively 
few succeeded, or if they did it was merely a temporary 
success. While our advance parties were in the line the 
Black Watch and the Gordons of the 15th division, 
executed a night attack on " Gallipoli " and Hill 35, a 
job which had been previously attempted, and very little 



50 YPRES. 

advance was made. Those who had reached the fore- 
most position were immediately expelled or captured, or 
killed where they stood, by the Boche counter attack 
next morning. Losses were very heavy. 

The 42nd took over the right portion of this front near 
the Frezenburg Ridge, and the 61st division the left. 
Incidentally, the latter again attempted Hill 35 but with 
equal success. The 125th brigade was given one of these 
unfortunate tasks, with the 6th Manchesters in support. 
They were to take the Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms, 
now no longer farms, but strong pill-boxes well defended 
by a system of outworks. They carried out the job and 
suffered heavy casualties, so heavy indeed that they could 
not withstand the inevitable Hun counter attack which 
came in the evening and was delivered by fresh storm 
troops brought up for this purpose from the rear. After 
they had attained their objective they realised the pecu- 
liarity of the strength of the German defensive system. 
They were subjected to heavy cross machine gun fire from 
the enemy positions which had not been attacked. It 
was evident that unless these latter were taken also 
they could not hold on. In other words, the policy of 
local attacks was suicidal and was, in fact, playing into 
the German scheme of defence. 

While these things were taking place the 7th had 
moved from behind Poperinghe to Toronto Camp near 
Brandhoek, where it enjoyed its full share of the even- 
ing's excitement from Hun bombing planes. On Sep- 
tember 7th, the battalion went by train to Ypres as far 
as the Asylum, and from there filed cautiously by platoons 
through the town, past the ever famous Cloth Hall, whose 
scraggy skeleton could be only dimly discerned in the 
darkness, and through the Menin Gate. A short distance 
along the Menin Road, and then we turned off and 
eventually got on "J" track — the interminable length 
of duck boards that carried generals, privates, rations, 
ammunition, runners, artillery observers, and all the other 
various persons and impedimenta of war, through the 
maze of shell holes up to the forward positions. There 
were a number of these tracks all leading out like arteries 



YPRES. 51 

from the bases of organisation to the front line. They 
were labelled at intervals with small boards bearing the 
distinctive letter or number of the track painted in white 
luminous paint so that they were equally legible by day 
or by night. These were the only guides in this desolate 
waste, and woe betide the man who in the night came 
across a spot where shelling had obliterated a good por- 
tion of the track, for it was a difficult job to pick it up 
again, and frequently a nerve-racking experience. 

With the exception of a few bursts of 4-2's at intervals 
none of which came uncomfortably close, the battalion 
were fortunate in having a peaceful passage that night, 
and the relief of the 7th Lanes. Fus. proceeded without 
incident. We were in support in old German positions 
just in front of Cambridge Road, headquarters being 
established in the shafts of a dug-out which had filled 
with water. Oh — how we longed for the comfort of Hav- 
rincourt ! But we never allowed this thought to cause 
depression, for it was all in the game and other men had 
had much worse things to do. 

I think the dominant note of our stay in this sector 
was shelling. It was an ever present serious factor, and 
a most disturbing one. Men were killed and maimed 
" for doing nothing " so to speak. They were merely on 
the spot, and there was nowhere else to go. Tactical 
reasons demanded that they should be there, should 
scratch a little cover and remain, and there they cheer- 
fully remained — and waited. Officers moved about and 
tried to get their men interested in their surroundings, 
in their comfort, in their protection, and in the rigging 
up of a defensive battle if necessary. The men under- 
stood and worked with a will, and laughter and song 
rang out over the torn earth. But every man knew that 
in a place like this almost anything might happen; how- 
ever, the worst would never happen to him — the other 
fellow perhaps, but not him. That, I imagine, was one 
of the secrets of sticking it. 

Undoubtedly the Boche was putting up a fight for this 
bit of ground, and his guns never ceased, only in the 
grey hours of dawn was there any semblance of peace 



52 YPRES. 

along the front, and then one felt that he had just tem- 
porarily put a hand over the mouth of the guns in a 
straining attitude of watching and listening for a move- 
ment on our part. A sudden withdrawal of that hand 
and they would all bark forth together in a terrible 
chorus. It was a strain for all, and faces began to show 
the lines of wearing mentality. Our persons lost their 
spruceness too. There was mud clinging to us, we were 
unshaven, equipment hung rather loosely, but our rifles 
and ammunition were still as ever, and Lewis guns would 
be found in good condition. 

After two nights the battalion occupied the front 
positions, relieving the 5th Manchesters, and headquarters 
were established in a good sound pill-box at Wilde Wood. 
Another attack was being planned upon Borry and Beck, 
to be carried out by the 5th, with ourselves in support. 
Meanwhile our job was to dig new trenches out in front 
as jumping off places for the attack. They were success- 
fully completed, but when the enemy saw them he paid 
his usual attention to them and as a result 2nd-Lt. Chat- 
terton (C Coy.) was badly wounded, and eventually lost 
a leg. He was an extremely popular figure both with 
officers and men being known to everyone as " Joe," 
and his absence was keenly felt, for he had gone out 
originally with the battalion in 1914. 

Luckily the plan of attack was abandoned, and apart 
from a feeling of personal relief everyone felt that a wise 
thing had been done. There was little hope of the enter- 
prise proving any more successful than that of the L.F's., 
especially as similar attempts had just been made left 
and right of us and had failed miserably. It was clear 
that the only way to ease the situation was to carry out 
a big attack on a wide front. Evidences of the imminence 
of such an attack showed themselves very soon, for 
advance parties from the 9th division came up to learn 
the front, and they intimated that they had a " big job 
on." 

One night one of our patrols out in No Man's Land, 
heard not far from them, feeble calls for help. Making 
their way across the shell holes towards the sound they 



YPRES. 53 

found a man with a smashed leg and absolutely exhaus- 
ted. He was brought in and proved to be an Inniskilling 
Fusilier who had taken part in an attack some four or 
five weeks previously! He stated that he had kept up 
his strength by eating the food and iron rations and 
drinking the water which he had found upon the dead 
men around him. It seemed incredible that such a thing 
could have happened, but on making inquiries concern- 
ing his division, the number of which I have forgotten, 
it proved to be perfectly true. Surely this case presents 
physiological and psychical problems worthy of con- 
sideration. 

We were relieved again by the 5th and went back to 
our old support position. After two days the L.F's. 
came up again to relieve the brigade, but the bulk of 
our battalion continued to go up in the evening to dig 
in a corps cable which was being laid as far forward 
as possible. By the time we completed the 1 last of our 
journeys to the east of Ypres, we were a battalion chas- 
tened in body and spirit. Many big gaps had been made 
in the ranks, and it was when we settled down to the 
more comfortable and peaceful existence that these gaps 
were keenly felt. A most noticeable absentee was R.S.M. 
Hartnett. He had been badly hit by a piece of shell at 
Bill Cottage, and later died in hospital at Rouen. Hart- 
nett's work with the 7th Manchesters has nothing but 
good to show. He had been a sergeant instructor with 
the battalion in pre-war days, being sent to us by the 
1st Manchesters, and had gone out in 191 4 to the Soudan. 
He stayed on through Gallipoli, and became R.S.M. 
when Franklin was made adjutant. A keen, regular, 
disciplinarian and the scourge of feeble N.C.O's., he 
was an untiring worker in entertainments. His song in 
Gallipoli — " Oh, Achi, Achi Baba," to the tune of the 
" Absent Minded Beggar " will never be forgotten, while 
some of the sketches that he wrote and had performed 
were masterpieces of good humour. C.S.M. Clough, of 
" D " company, was appointed as his successor and al- 
though the post of R.S.M. is a difficult one to fill, he 
did some excellent work, particularly in the line. 



54 YPRES. 

Toronto Camp sheltered us again for a night or two 
after which we moved nearer to Poperinghe. It was 
evident by now that we were to leave Ypres altogether, 
and no one exhibited any regrets, but there was a 
peculiar feeling that the division was rather under a cloud, 
and apart from a natural partisanship in the matter, 
everyone was indignant at the unfortunate opportunities 
which had been afforded us to make our reputation in 
this country. All were emphatic that had we been given 
a sporting chance in a general attack, there would have 
been nothing wanting in the final result. However, there 
was a violent spring clean through the division. The 
G.O.C. left us, as well as a number of the staff. In accor- 
dance with an army scheme to move round commanding 
officers, Lt.-Col. Cronshaw was exchanged for the CO. 
of the 8th Worcesters — Lt.-Col. Carr, D.S.O. — and bade 
a sad farewell to the 7th on September 20th. The men 
sent a good many regrets after him, for he had done 
sound work, and had had a big hand in the creation of 
the fair name of the Fleur de Lys. We were pleased 
later to see his name in the honours list for a D.S.O. in 
recognition of his work with the 7th Manchesters. 

On that day the battalion marched to Winizeele and 
there we were joined by the new CO. A sort of kinship 
sprang up when it was discovered that he had been 
wounded at the landing on Gallipoli with the Worcesters 
of the famous 29th division. 

NIEUPORT. 

It was now apparent that our destination was north, one 
more step in the direction of Blighty, towards which we 
had constantly moved since leaving El Arish. But it 
was as near as we ever should get until the final crossing. 
We were to join that small, isolated batch of the British 
Army which had taken over the coastal sector from the 
French with such high hopes in the middle of the year. 
Ever since the first furious German onslaught in 1914, 
when the Kaiser had come in person to see his myrmi- 
dons seize the coast road to the Channel Ports, and when 
they met the wonderful defence of the Belgian and French 



NIEUPORT. 55 

troops culminating in the flooding of the Yser lowlands, 
the Nieuport sector had settled down to a quiet front. 

The intention was for the British Fourth Army, under 
General Rawlinson to steal quietly in, and on an 
appointed day to startle our friend the enemy by a quick 
turning movement along the coast, which, worked in 
conjunction with the Ypres offensive would free Ostend 
and Zeebrugge. A far-reaching conception, but unfor- 
tunately doomed from the first by its over-importance. 
The Hun had found out. Someone had told him there 
were British soldiers on the coast, so he stampeded — not 
in the way we should have liked but in a disastrous 
manner for ourselves. It had been part of the scheme 
to preserve the secrecy of this movement by not bringing 
up the guns when the infantry came, for there is nothing 
like gun positions for " giving the game away." So soon 
as the German knew, however, that the British had 
arrived, up came his guns very quickly, for he was well 
aware that they had not come for a rest, especially in 
view of other activity near Ypres. 

The ist division had taken over the Coastal sector with 
the 32nd division in front of Nieuport on their right. On 
the coast the line ran through the sandhills on the east 
side of the Yser, while on the right of this the ground was 
very low lying and was largely flooded from the five 
canals which converge near the town. In July the Huns 
smashed down all the bridges over the river with shell 
fire and then attacked in overwhelming numbers, with 
the result that amongst the sand dunes, being unsupported 
either by artillery or infantry, the battalions on the east 
of the river were completely blotted out. Very little pro- 
gress, however, was made against the 32nd division, and 
their line remained more or less intact. It was impossible 
to retake the lost ground, for the wide river mouth had 
now to be crossed. This incident altered the whole face 
of the situation, for a general advance over the inundated 
sector alone was out of the question, and the scheme was 
given up. A number of guns was brought up to form 
an effective background to the infantry and that was as 
far as matters developed. 



56 NIEUPORT. 

When the 42nd arrived they found, by a curious chance,, 
the 66th division in charge of the coast sector. This 
division was composed of the 2nd line battalions of our 
own units, so there was a tremendous amount of interest 
in each other displayed by both sides. Friends met 
friends, and opportunities for these meetings were further 
afforded by the fact that most units relieved their own 
2nd line battalions. 

The 7th, after a novel experience of being carried up 
to the coast on motor 'buses from Winizeele, were " de- 
bussed " at Coxyde, where they billeted themselves com- 
fortably in the deserted houses. The Boche had paid 
this place some attention prior to his attack in July, and 
had not really left it alone, so that the civilians had made 
a rather hurried departure. A few had elected to remain, 
and were to be seen walking furtively about the streets 
with that curious strained look that the war-driven 
peasantry of France and Belgium always wore. Here 
we met the 2nd battalion of the Manchesters, and were 
glad of the opportunity to make their acquaintance. A 
7th officer, then Capt. L. Taylor, was amongst them and 
it may be mentioned here that later in the war he added 
lustre to the Fleur de Lys by winning, with the 2nd Man- 
chesters, the Military Cross with two bars, which decora- 
tions he fortunately lived to carry home after the conflict. 
Whilst here the 2/7th being anxious to prove their mettle, 
challenged us to a game of football, from which we 
carried off the honours by a comfortable margin. Need- 
less to say, this match excited considerable enthusiasm. 

After a couple of days we took over the brigade sup- 
port position, where we were charmed to find ourselves 
living in huts amongst the sandhills behind Oost Dun- 
kerque Bains. There was a fly in the ointment, however, 
for the enemy knew about this camp, and being in 
possession of a couple of high velocity 5-9 guns for which 
this place was a suitable target, he pooped them off at us 
occasionally in the evening time. The night before we 
came, indeed, a shell dropped upon a hut occupied by 
2/6th Manchester officers, killing four of them. Although 
we were worried this way, there being little feeling of 



58 NIEUPORT. 

security under a thin wooden or canvas roof, we fortunately- 
sustained no casualties. On October 2nd we took over the 
front line from the 5th, and were now in the unique 
position of being the left battalion of the whole Western 
Front. 

It was an extraordinary place to fight in — like having 
a real war at Blackpool amongst the houses along the 
front. Nestling in the corner made by the mouth of the 
Yser and the coast, is the seaside resort ostensibly be- 
longing to the town of Nieuport, for it is called Nieuport 
Bains. The war had arrived here suddenly, apparently, 
for an engine and trucks still stood in the station, much 
battered now of course, while every cellar was filled with 
most expensive furniture which the people in their rapid 
flight had been unable to remove. All the houses had 
been of the new and large type, particularly those over- 
looking the promenade, but they were now skeletons of 
their former glory, and to see property of this kind in 
such a state only served to bring home still more forcibly 
the cruel destruction of modern war. The French had 
made this front, and with typical French ingenuity they 
had connected all the cellars of the houses and so con- 
structed a perfectly safe communication trench to the 
front line. This C.T. was continued backwards as a sort 
of tunnel along the beach, but it was really a camouflaged 
trench, just covered with a layer of sand. Flash lamps 
were thus greatly in demand on this sector. As well as 
watching the Hun on land we were expected also to 
keep a look out to sea for submarines and any other 
vicious craft, and the two posts allotted this duty were 
armed with wonderful pom-pom guns that no one had the 
courage to experiment with. Still " the man behind the 
gun " had a comfortable feeling of importance so long 
as there was nothing to shoot at. In that eventuality one 
trembles to think what might have been the effect upon 
himself and the remainder of the crew. 

Patrolling was also a queer business. In warmer 
weather it was accomplished in bathing costume and tin 
hat, with revolver between the teeth or behind the ear, 
but cold nights discouraged these efforts, and we sneaked 



N IE U PORT. 59 

about on our side of the river wondering what we could 
do. We were now at the seaside and there was the 
usual crop of mad holiday projects. One of these was 
to experiment with a new gas to be projected into the 
Boche front trench across the river. Then Lt. Morten 
was to pilot a boat over, hop into the said trench, and 
return in possession of a " gassee " from whom the results 
would be studied. Morten went down the line with a 
sturdy crew of A.B's. from " D " company to practise 
rowing, but luckily that was as far as the scheme pro- 
gressed. Then we had our sea-serpent. An odd sentry 
or so had sworn to having seen a boat on successive 
nights knocking about the river. A careful look-out was 
instituted, but no one in authority caught a glimpse of 
this " mystery ship." After six days of this sort of thing 
we were surprised to find ourselves relieved by the 20th 
D.L.I, of the 41st division. They had just arrived from 
Ypres and the 42nd were to take over the sector on the 
right. The 127th brigade, however, went out into reserve 
at La Panne and there we had a splendid time. 

It was about this time that the new divisional commander 
arrived — Maj.-Gen. Solly-Flood, D.S.O., who was des- 
tined to raise the fair name of the 42nd to rank with the 
proudest of the British Army. He had been for a time 
the director of training at G.H.Q., and this fact filled us 
with awe but none the less with pleasure, for every 
sensible soldier knows that success in the field is the pro- 
duct of good training. We expected strafe upon strafe 
whilst out of the line, but it was a joy to find that the 
new commander knew that the best results are obtained 
by instructing everyone down to the meanest soldier in his 
job rather than by bullying. What could the Manchesters 
better wish for then, than to have Generals Henley and 
Solly-Flood? It was indeed a lucky chance that had 
brought us under his command. The 7th were also able 
to welcome an old friend in Major Hurst who suddenly 
rejoined the battalion from England about this period. 

La Panne had not altogether lost its characteristics as 
a pleasure resort, for it was the place where the tired 
officers of the Belgian Army came for a rest cure. King 



6o NIEUPORT. 

Albert and the Queen frequently stayed at their residence 
here in their usual quiet, simple way. The Belgians told 
you with pride how their monarch could at any time be 
seen walking by himself about the streets of the town or 
along the country roads like any other officer in the army. 
A story was told how a couple of young, dashing French 
flying officers met the Queen on the beach one day but, 
not recognising her, started a conversation. She, seeing 
the possibility of a good joke, invited them to her home, 
and they gleefully accepted. Picture their consternation 
when they were presented to the King! Altogether we 
spent an extremely pleasant fortnight in this place, and 
it was by way of a study in contrasts that October 20th 
found us installed in the Redan on the opposite side of 
the river from Nieuport. 

This town is a sister in misfortune to Ypres, but the 
destruction was even more complete because it was almost 
in the front line, and shells of all calibres dropped in it 
well-nigh continuously day and night. Peace-time bridges, 
of course, had been obliterated, but soldiers had built 
others to connect up the front line defence, which was 
east of the river, with the rear. Who will ever forget 
Putney Bridge? Lancashire men who knew nothing of 
its parent in London, had now perforce to take a lively 
personal interest in this wobbly structure. There were 
two others but they were not so famous as this 
because they were not so frequently used. Many things 
can be camouflaged to deceive aircraft, but I think a 
bridge over a river would tax the most ingenious in this 
art, hence, although hidden from direct observation from 
the enemy lines, the Hun had the exact position of these 
bridges, and, what was more disconcerting, he also had 
the exact range. So he " dusted " them at irregular in- 
tervals with various calibres, and trips across resembled 
the noble game of running the gauntlet. This portion of 
night reliefs was naturally particularly exciting. The 
late Lt.-Col. Marshall, V.C., when second in command to 
the 6th L.F's., provided an amusing story for the division 
one day when a couple of officers failed to salute him 
in the middle of Putney Bridge, he walking calmly across, 



NIEUPORT. 61 

and they — obviously hurrying. He pulled them up and 
strafed them duly, then, to force his point, he stood on 
the bridge and caused them to pass him two or three 
times in a dignified manner and salute him correctly. 
Luckily the Boche did not interfere in this little humorous 
interlude. 

The Redan was a large triangular redoubt, with the 
base resting on the river and having an artificial moat 
through the middle and on its other two sides. It had 
been built many years ago to defend Nieuport and in this 
war had played its part. The enemy had paid a good 
deal of attention to it with heavy shells so it was con- 
siderably knocked about. Most of the concreted dugouts, 
however, were still intact, and they served to house a 
good portion of the 7th in their support position. Head- 
quarters inhabited the ever famous Indiarubber House. 
This resembled an innocent barn in appearance, and the 
Hun had hit it hard many many times, but his shells had 
only bounced harmlessly off the solid concealed concrete — 
hence its name. The French, in the quiet days, had 
" done themselves well " here, and we thanked them for 
the excellent supply of electric light which they had 
handed over. 

It was when we took over the front line, however, that 
the real meaning of the Nieuport sector was revealed. 
The ground was torn and devastated like the Salient, 
but here the destruction and misery was increased by 
floods, ever present in a greater or less degree. It had 
been impossible to dig in the low ground, so the defences 
consisted of breastworks which had been very much 
battered since the enemy had established his superiority 
here in guns. Over this area the Boche had uninterrupted 
observation from the ruins of Lombaertzyde, which lay 
on slightly higher ground just within his lines. It was 
thus practically impossible to move about by day, for 
the sight of khaki brought down a hurricane of whizz 
bangs, special batteries being apparently told off for 
sniping of this nature. Further, as we lay in a very sharp 
salient just here our men could be plainly seen behind the 
breastworks by the enemy on their right rear, and these 



62 NIEUPORT. 

people indulged in long range machine gun sniping. 
Since our purpose was a " peaceful " one in this sector, 
we could see no value in inviting the enemy to indulge in 
artillery and M.G. target practice on us, so we lay 
" doggo " during the day. Everything had to be done at 
night, and runners to the companies found this their busiest 
time, wading thigh-deep through stretches of water, and 
picking their way amongst innumerable shell holes in 
search of Company Headquarters. This front also lent 
itself to heavy trench-mortar work by the Hun, and 
" minnies " were constantly stealing over with evil intent 
to batter down our flimsy breastworks. Battalion H.Q. 
and the signallers will probably not easily forget the 
morning when they found themselves the objective in 
this kind of work. One shot dropped plumb on the 
H.Q. concrete shelter, half removing the roof and scatter- 
ing the contents of the orderly room in a disrespectful 
manner, whilst the next one pushed in the signaller's dug- 
out, wounding L.-Cpl. Wild. It was the sang-froid of 
a/R.S.M. Clough on this occasion, coupled with his sound 
work generally in the line, which earned for him the 
the Belgian Croix de Guerre. 

Although the casualties were nothing like so numerous, 
still our men agreed that for general conditions they 
preferred the Ypres sector to this, and it certainly was a 
most depressing spot. One of the great troubles was the 
number of canals, which, owing to the destruction of the 
dams and locks, etc., were now affected by the tides, 
causing them to overflow and flood our defensive works. 
This was another source of glee to the Hun, and he 
played a most amusing game — to himself — of allowing us 
to build up a dam and then promptly knocking it down 
with 5-c/s and 8"s. One night, a new officer to the 7th, 
2nd-Lt. J. H. Milne, was in charge of a working party 
on one of these jobs when they were suddenly subjected 
to heavy shelling. The dam was smashed and Milne 
found his party broken up on each side of the canal. 
Realising that one or two of the men on the opposite side 
of the canal to himself had been hit, he, along with Sgt. 
Heath and Pte. Titchener, scrambled across, although 



NIEUPORT. 63 

the shelling had not ceased, and looked after them, getting 
them to places of safety. Milne received recognition for 
this, while Sgt. Heath and Pte. Titchcner were awarded 
Military Medals. 

On the night of November 1st a most unfortunate 
incident occurred. We were out in support again and 
were to relieve the 5th the following night in the front 
line, the usual advance parties having been sent up. Lt. 
Sievewright had gone up for " B " company, and whilst 
there some scheme had been suddenly formed to go out 
a short distance to examine new wire that had been put 
up. The party had ventured out beyond the wire, how- 
ever, and were suddenly assailed with a hurricane of 
bombs from what appeared to be an enemy patrol or 
covering party. Sievewright and two officers of the 5th 
were killed and two other ranks wounded. It was an 
exceedingly unfortunate event for it was quite an im- 
promptu venture and it would appear that the usual 
patrol precautions had not been considered so seriously 
as they would ordinarily have been. This was a strange 
front, however, and extraordinary things happened, our 
brigade not being the only one to suffer from mishaps, 
for on another night the commanding officer of the 8th 
L.F's., whilst visiting his outposts wandered into a Boche 
post and was never seen again, while the late Lt.-Col. 
Marshall, V.C. (previously mentioned) did the same thing, 
but after a short scrap with a Hun he managed to get 
away. 

We had the 2nd Matrosen (Naval) division in front of 
us, and they were really an enterprising lot. Undoubtedly 
our pressure upon Paschendaele was making the German 
nervy on this sector, and he was under an obligation to 
keep alive and display a vigorous activity. Further, his 
morale was considerably heightened by the Teutonic 
success in Italy which his wireless sets were busy 
blazoning forth to all the world. This will account, there- 
fore, for the sudden arrival of an enemy patrol outside 
one of our isolated posts one night. They flung in bombs 
over the scanty wire, inflicting casualties, and then rapidly 
departed. This was a sting which had to be avenged, 



64 NIEUPORT. 

and while the 5th were in they took first toll by meeting 
a Hun patrol in No Man's Land, and after fighting it out 
returned triumphant with two prisoners, who proved to 
be Bavarians, thus giving a valuable identification. When 
we took over, our chance came very soon for a patrol 
was met on the same game as before. The result was 
discomfiture of the enemy and the capture of a wounded 
petty officer of the Matrosens. From these two events 
we could approximately deduce the enemy divisional 
boundary. The next night, determined to assert our 
superiority over the Boche, another of our patrols from 
"A" company, journeyed forth, got through his wire, 
located a post, and then filled it with bombs. 

After seventeen days of amphibious soldiering in front 
of Nieuport we were relieved by the 125th brigade, and 
went back for a welcome rest to huts near Coxyde. 
Rumours drifted around about accompanying the 41st 
division to Italy, but they did not materialise. Bitterly 
cold weather suddenly arrived, however, which made us 
aware of the flimsiness of the French huts in which we 
dwelt. 



CHAPTER VI. 

An Interlude, 



THE 42nd division added to its list of new ex- 
periences when it was relieved at Nieuport, by a 
division of French troops. We afterwards heard 
that they had demonstrated their capacity for common 
sense in warfare by evacuating all the horrible ground 
in front of the Redan, which we had clung to with charac- 
teristic British bull-dog tenacity. 

Lt.-Col. Carr, D.S.O., having proceeded on leave, Major 
Allan commanded the battalion during the succeeding 
days. It was found later, however, that the CO. would 
not return, having been placed on the sick list at home. 
The division was destined for Bethune and it was a very 
pleasant five days' march that took us to that area. On 
the first day, Nov. 16th, passing through Leffinckoucke, 
near Dunkirk, we reached Teteghem, while the next day 
took us to Esquelbec, just outside Wormhoudt. The 
following two days required only short distances to the 
Hazebrouck district, but the fifth day was longer, and, 
marching past the divisional commander in Aire, we 
arrived at Mazinghem, a small village just off the main 
Lillers road. 

The battalion spent a few days here, and a really 
happy time it was. The villagers had not become blase" 
to British soldiers, and they gave our men a hearty 
welcome in their billets. It was with no small pride that 
the cure\ with whom the padre and myself were lucky 
enough to be billeted, informed us that General Petain 
had at one time spent many happy days in his house, 
for his uncle had been the cure here. Whilst in this 
village we received the news of the wonderful Cambrai 

F 



66 AN INTERLUDE. 

attack by General Byng, and we had a curious feeling 
that he had no right to do that without asking the 42nd 
to help him, for we naturally possessed a fatherly in- 
terest in Havrincourt and all its works. The first flush 
of news gave us no details, and we were perplexed to 
know what had happened to "Jerry's Wire" which we 
knew was formidable enough. Then the stories of tanks 
upon tanks drifted through, and we began to understand 
it. 

It was here that Lt.-Col. Bromfield, of the Leicester- 
shire Regt. first saw the 7th and assumed command. He 
was due for leave, however, and had just emerged from 
a trying time at Paschendaele, so Major Allan was soon 
left in charge once more. We did not remain long at 
Mazinghem for our duty was to relieve the 25th division 
in the line at Givenchy, before La Bassee. As everyone 
knows, this was one of the sectors of the original British 
line so that everything connected with it was essentially 
English. Since the fighting at Festubert in 191 5 com- 
parative peace had reigned along this front and we were 
content to allow it to remain so after our noisy experiences 
at Ypres and Nieuport. 

Givenchy was once a mining village situated on 
a spur of the Aubers Ridge, which, running west 
to east, looks down upon the fiat ground, stretching un- 
interruptedly northwards through Festubert, Neuve 
Chapelle and Laventie towards Armentieres. Someone 
had facetiously suggested in the trench diary (a beauti- 
fully bound document that had been handed down from 
battalion to battalion from early days) that " Givenchy 
Church be kept in a state of repair for the Huns to 
register on," and therein lies an important fact. Had 
the church tower been standing, and one could have got 
into it, a glorious view of a large part of Northern France 
would have been obtained. Looking eastwards one saw 
La Bassee half concealed by thick woods while to the 
northeast were the outskirts of Lille. Southwards and 
south-west were the mining villages of the Lens district 
with their huge conical fosses. In other words, Givenchy 
was an important tactical point and the fiercest efforts 



AN INTERLUDE. 67 

of the Boche in 1914 had failed to move British troops 
from it, although at the end of the fighting it lay in a 
very sharp salient, which was only straightened out after 
Festubert in 191 5. 

Since those days typical old-fashioned trench warfare 
had prevailed. There were wonderful ramifications of 
trenches, front line, duplicate firing line, support trenches, 
reserve trenches, and numerous communication saps, all 
built on the old style with numerous sandbags. On the 
flat ground to the north it had been impossible to dig 
down for defence, a:id both sides had built up earthworks 
on the somewhat marshy ground, so that sandbags were 
again the most noticeable feature. Running behind the 
breastworks in this portion was a convenient trench- 
tramway — for rations, ammunition, etc. To the south of 
Givenchy were the famous La Bassee Canal and the 
brickstacks. 

When mankind started to fight each other under the 
earth, as well as on it and above it, No Man's Land in 
front of Givenchy began to be really churned up. Huge 
craters had been blown up by both sides in such numbers 
that they formed the most distinctive feature of this part 
of the line. The whole of the ground across the ridge 
between the lines presented the appearance of a model 
of the Alps on a rather large scale. These craters had 
to be carefully represented on all trench maps, and they 
bore distinctive names such as Warlington Crater and 
Red Dragon Crater. Both sides had pushed forward 
saps as far as possible through this difficult ground both 
for observation and sniping purposes. Great mine shafts 
extended under No Man's Land, and the curious could 
go down these and listen to the Huns knocking about 
and digging above. 

The great advantage of the quiet nature of this front 
was the possibility of daylight reliefs, so it was in the 
afternoon of November 27th that the 7th dribbled across 
" Westminster Bridge " over the canal, and took over the 
support positions evacuated by the 1st battalion Wilt- 
shire Regt. in the vicinity of " Windy Corner." We were 
astonished to find cottages and rows of houses, very 



68 AN INTERLUDE. 

little damaged, within 600 yards of the front line, and 
we reposed comfortably on wire beds inside them instead 
of in holes in the ground. In fact, across the canal, just 
behind Harley Street, and at an equal distance from the 
front, there still lived a Frenchman with his wife and 
kiddie, who dispensed eggs and chips to hungry Tommies ! 
Surely this must be a " bon front." I am afraid things 
looked vastly different after the Hun attempt to smash 
through the 55th division here in the following April. 
It was with the probability of this attack in view that the 
42nd division began to stiffen the defences, and as well 
as holding the line we interested ourselves in digging, 
concreting and wiring. 

G.H.Q. were convinced that Germany would in the 
Spring make a supreme effort to break up the Western 
Front before the American Army became an effective 
force in the field. The offensive spirit was to be kept in 
our pockets for a short time, and we were to turn our 
attention to the defensive idea. They had also decided 
that a system of " defended localities," skilfully sited 
and constructed, would be the most effective method of 
breaking up the attacking hordes. That is, the British 
front would consist of a series of posts, each self-con- 
tained, but mutually supporting, that would act like a 
huge breakwater to the Hun waves. In accordance with 
this general idea, the line near La Bassee was recon- 
structed, and a good deal of hard work was put in 
during those winter weeks. Later, when we heard how 
well the 55th division had stopped the enemy in the 
localities that we had done so much to perfect, we felt a 
good deal of pride and satisfaction that they had proved 
a success, and complimentary messages were exchanged 
between Maj.-Gen. Solly-Flood and Maj.-Gen. Jeudwine, 
commanding the 55th division. A combination of the 
work and fighting qualities of Lancashire men had been 
too much for the Hun. 

It must not be imagined that it was all a bed of roses 
on this front, for the enemy had his unpleasant moments, 
particularly at night. There was a steady flow of irritating 
casualties, and when Corporal O'Connell and Pte. Bowie 



AN INTERLUDE. 69 

of the regimental police were killed at headquarters cne 
night, we felt that old familiar faces might not be so 
permanent amongst us as might be supposed. The cruel 
disruption of war was ever present. Still we had the 
satisfaction of knowing that the Boche received as much 
and more than he gave. The battalion snipers occasion- 
ally registered hits, and in this type of warfare there was 
plenty "of good sport" to be had owing to the short 
distance across No Man's Land and the large gaps in 
the sides of the enemy trenches. Our gunners also in- 
dulged in sniping with good results, and it was exciting 
to watch the rapidity of the sequence of two or three grey 
figures jumping out of a trench and the bang, bang,, 
bang of an 18 pounder shell or two in their close vicinity. 
But our excitement must have been as naught compared 
with that of the aforesaid grey figures! 

The reliefs in this " model sector " came round like 
clock-work. A battalion did four days in the front line, 
four days in support, four days in the line, and then 
four days in brigade reserve. After thirty-two days of 
this the brigade went out for sixteen days in divisional 
reserve. It was all so beautiful and soothing that it 
seemed as though the problem of perpetual motion had 
been solved and the war had come for an eternity. The 
enemy did the same thing, and we knew when he did it. 
He left us alone on relief days and we returned the com- 
pliment. Thus on December 9th we effected a peaceful 
passage into brigade reserve at Gorre Chateau. In a 
noisy sector this chateau and all the village in the vicinity 
would have been reduced to ruins, but here the civilians 
had not been interrupted in their daily work, and the 
chateau itself was a wonderful billet for troops, accom- 
modating the whole battalion comfortably. In fact, nearly 
twelve months later orderly room received bills for the 
use of the electric light in the officers' mess! 

Whilst here Major Allan was sent to hospital, from 
which he was eventually invalided to England, and did 
not return to the battalion again. He had had a long, 
useful career with the 127th brigade since the middle of 
191 5. Family affairs had caused the regretted departure 



jo AN INTERLUDE. 

of Lt. G. W. Franklin, and his place at the head of the 
transport was taken by Lt. Wilkinson, after a brief period 
of duty by Lt. C. R. Thorpe. Col. Bromfield returned 
from leave just after we went into the line again at 
Givenchy after the four days' rest. This spell in the line 
was marked principally by cold, frosty weather and most 
of the battalion figured in the trenches in wonderful fur 
coats popularly known as leather jerkins. 

The Manchester brigade were fortunate again in being 
out in divisional reserve for 'Xmas. Excellent fare was 
provided for the 7th in the shape of turkeys, pork, 'Xmas 
pudding, extra vegetables, barrels of beer and extra 
rum rations, so that hilarity was the order of the day. 
There being a good deal of snow about at this time 
tactical exercises frequently took the form of inter com- 
pany snow-ball fights. To have Major Hurst with 
us during this period previous to his departure on Courts- 
martial work could not have been more opportune, for 
he had ever been most energetic on the social side of the 
battalion. With reminiscences of his impromptu concerts 
and lectures on Gallipoli and in Egypt we knew we should 
not look in vain for something from him. His was the 
master-mind behind this Yule-tide festivity, while a 
delightfully funny sketch written by him in which Gwen- 
doline de Vere of Greenheys Lane figured prominently, 
gave the officers and sergeants of the 7th an opportunity 
of displaying their dramatic skill. The inhabitants of 
Bethune, where most of the brigade were in billets at this 
time, will not easily forget the efforts of the 127th brigade 
to make the most of its 'Xmas rest. The Boche made 
unpleasant contributions to the proceedings by way of 
long range shelling by day and bombing by night, but 
although the 8th and the civilians suffered somewhat by 
these displays, the 7th escaped practically unhurt. 

In the opening days of the New Year we returned to 
the line in the Brickstacks sector south of the canal, and the 
heavy snow and frost having been succeeded by a sudden 
thaw accompanied by rain, the condition of the trenches 
in the low ground can be better imagined than described. 
Leather jerkins were quickly supplemented by " boots. 



AN INTERLUDE. 71 

gum, thigh," and the British soldier came to assume the 
appearance of a Yarmouth fisherman. Runners, etc., 
arriving at company H.Q., would first demand from 
the harbour master permission to navigate their course 
through the troubled waters, while facetious notices in- 
dicated times when pleasure boats could be taken out. 
This amphibious warfare was extremely unpleasant, and 
it further delayed the work on the new defensive positions. 
Captain Jimmy Baker and Lt. Jack Morten, whilst on a 
midnight prowl in No Man's Land almost met with disas- 
ter, and the performance came to an undignified close 
after they had extricated one another from deep muddy 
water to make their way back to dock minus gum boots. 
We knew that the Huns must be in a similar predicament, 
for their ground was equally low, and we could only 
laugh when on one occasion dawn revealed one or two 
of them jumping about in the open in attempts to dry 
their clothes and to restore life to their numbed bodies. 
It hardly seemed the game to fire upon them. 

Kindness to a German is often misplaced, as we found 
when his "travelling Circus" of heavy trench mortars 
arrived. Having unobtrusively got these weapons into 
concentrated positions near his support line he suddenly 
loosed them all off one afternoon at an extremely annoy- 
ing and rapid rate of fire, peppering all the trenches 
that we had spent such time in getting into habitable 
condition. It was a nerve-racking experience while it 
lasted but the 7th stuck to their posts ready to meet any 
Hun attack should it develop. What the enemy had 
really intended was never quite understood, but a small 
party of Boche got across No Man's Land that night. 
One of " B " company's posts saw them, however, and 
attacked them. One German got into our trench and Pte. 
Saunderson chased him but failed to get him. Jerry, 
in his hurried departure, left behind him his cap and one 
or two other articles and these, together with a collection 
of battered trenches and a few slight casualties, were the 
only souvenirs we got out of this " stunt," with the ex- 
ception of the M.M. awarded to Pte. Saunderson, for 



72 AN INTERLUDE. 

his plucky conduct. The divisional commander was in the 
battalion area at the time, and he afterwards sent us a con- 
gratulatory message on the steadiness of the men, a 
compliment of which we were justly proud. 

On January 22nd we moved out to Le Preol into 
brigade reserve. The 7th were particularly fortunate in 
coming out of the line at this time, for we did not go in 
again before the whole division was relieved. After our 
allotted period at Le Preol it was the brigade's turn for 
divisional reserve, and this was accompanied by another 
move back to Hingette, near Locon. One of our functions 
in this position was to back up the Portuguese if they 
should be attacked, for they lay on the left of the 42nd. 
This entailed a careful reconnaissance of all the ground 
behind their positions, and the siting and construction of 
defended localities in that area. So the battalion found 
itself digging and wiring once more in new soil. 

The 55th division, having recovered from the severe 
handling they had received in the enemy reply to " Cam- 
brai," eventually took over the line, and on February 
I2ththe7th marched back to Burbure, near Lillers. The 
end of the 42nd's tour of duty in' this sector had been 
marked the previous night by a highly successful raid by 
the 9th Manchesters which had taken the Boche com- 
pletely by surprise, and had furnished quite a number 
of prisoners and machine guns. The warning rumblings of 
the German offensive storm now steadily increased to a 
marked degree. His guns were growing in number, range 
and activity, and what had once been peaceful back areas 
were steadily becoming more uncomfortable. This was 
displayed all along the front, so that it was impossible to 
deduce from that fact alone where his blow would fall. 
There was a good deal of suspicion, however, about the 
Portuguese front, and the duties of the 42nd, as 1st Army 
reserve, were clear if the attack took place there. 

Eventually the division, without having to move again, 
became G.H.Q. reserve, which meant that we were 
liable to be sent to any part of the British line when 
Germany commenced to strike. With the aid of motor 
buses, parties of officers and men made reconnaissances 



AN INTERLUDE. 73 

of the defended localities behind the Loos and Hulluch 
sector, so that by now we were more or less conversant 
with the larger part of the 1st Army front. The divisional 
commander lectured officers and N.C.O's. of all brigades 
concerning the work of defence, and it was about this 
time that he instituted the divisional motto: — "Go one 
better " — which was taken up and acted upon with such 
popular enthusiasm by everyone connected with the 42nd. 
In fact, if a coat of arms of the East Lancashire Division 
had been designed in 191 8, the following three features 
would have stood out clearly : — 




£.L. 



"Cfi 0N£ BETTER'.' 



During the month of February the drain upon the man- 
power of the British Empire caused by the war made 
itself apparent. It was found to be impossible to main- 
tain in the field four battalions per brigade, and a re- 
duction to three was ordered. Then took place the 
solution of a most confusing Chinese puzzle. Some bat- 
talions were broken up, and the fragments sent to others 
either in the same division or in other divisions, while 
in the case of many units, particularly territorials, there 
was a transfer of a sort of cadre which was amplified to 
full strength in its new division. The 42nd division lost 
the 6th L.F's., the 4th East Lancashires and the 9th Man- 
chesters, and the 8th Manchesters were transferred to the 
126th brigade, which was now composed of 5th East 
Lanes., the 8th and 10th Manchesters, while the 127th 
brigade was left with the 5th, 6th and 7th Manchesters. 



74 AN INTERLUDE. 

A whole company of seven officers and 200 men of the 
2/1 oth Manchesters from the 66th division came to wear 
the Fleur de Lys, and we were glad to welcome them as 
comrades. In the heavy fighting that followed they 
proved themselves to be good stuff of the regular Oldham 
type, while they themselves forgot their natural initial 
heart burnings and grew proud of the Cap badge and 
flashes that they had adopted. 

Our period of rest was divided between Burbure and 
Busnes, and in both places the mesdemoiselles and the 
estaminets were a source of real delight to the men of 
the 7th. As might be expected, some good, solid training 
was achieved, and this was interspersed by most enjoyable 
football competitions and cross-country running. In fact, 
the middle of March found the division extremely fit. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Stopping the Hun. 

GOOD GOD ! What is the matter with the Boche 
to-night ? " Such were our ejaculations on the 
night of March 21st at Busnes. The coming of 
darkness had brought with it the long-drawn out, familiar 
" A-zoom, a-zoom— CRASH — CRASH — CRASH," of 
enemy planes but in closer proximity than ever before. 
Previously they had confined their attentions to Bethune 
each night, but on this particular evening Lillers was 
the objective, and plane after plane came over main- 
taining an almost continuous bombardment throughout 
the night. An ammunition train standing in the station, 
was hit, and the terrific explosions that followed at irregular 
intervals accompanied by huge fires added to the even- 
ing's excitements. Next day, wires from G.H.Q. enligh- 
tened us. The German offensive opened on the morning 
of March 21st, the fifth and third armies being engaged. 
The front line defence had been overwhelmed, but we 
were led to suppose that the enemy was being held up 
amongst the defended localities. 

We afterwards learnt that intensive bombing of back 
areas and particularly of railheads and junctions had 
taken place that night in the whole of the British area. 
One of the objects of this was to impede the movements 
of reserve divisions, and when it is known that detailed 
instructions had been issued for the entrainment of the 
42nd at Lillers in case we should be required at some 
distance, such a policy as this is easily understood. But 
the German had reckoned without the London omnibus 
driver, who before the war had served another kind of 
" General." Arrangements were rapidly completed in 



76 STOPPING THE HUN. 

twenty-four hours, so that on the morning of March 23rd 
the whole division, in battle order, found a huge fleet of 
buses ready to convey them to — " Somewhere in France." 
The French villagers smiled confidently at us as we 
journeyed northwards in the direction of the Portuguese 
front, but they did not know, poor souls,, that this was 
the only way the large convoy could " about turn," nor 
did they know, although perhaps they guessed, that the 
Portuguese front would collapse the following month and 
they would be fleeing for their lives before the blonde 
beast. We eventually turned our faces south and rode 
the whole of that day without stopping over the dusty 
roads of France. The Hun had been extraordinarily lucky 
in weather, there having been hardly a drop of rain 
for more than three weeks, so that the ground was per- 
fectly dry for his operations. 

Nightfall found us still travelling, and the day of 24th 
March had almost broken before we "debussed" to 
find ourselves in the devastated area of the Somme lands, 
near the village of Ayette. There was no rest to be had. 
Uncertainty as to the situation in front and also as to 
the future possibilities necessitated an immediate adoption 
of tactical positions, and the 127th brigade took up a 
defensive line, on an outpost principle, to cover the 
ground between Ablainzevelle and Courcelles. Until this 
had been achieved no man was able to turn his thoughts 
to sleep, in fact the sun had been up some hours before 
this was possible. The day produced a complexity of 
events in the handling of which Col. Bromfield proved 
himself to be at once human and masterful. In the 
first place, a " battle surplus " had to be decided upon. 
This was a small group of officers and men, selected as 
far as possible from each rank and from each type of 
specialists, who remained behind the line whilst the bat- 
talion was in action. In the event of the battalion being 
obliterated by casualties, they would form the nucleus 
of a new unit. Choice generally fell upon those who 
were considered due for a rest from the line. When 
the necessary officers and men had been abstracted 



STOPPING THE HUN. 77 

the Company Commanders were Capt. Tinker, "A," Capt. 
Nidd, " B," 2nd-Lt. Harland, " C," and Capt. J.Baker, 
" D." Headquarters comprised the CO., Capt. J. R. 
Creagh, Adjutant; Lt. C. S. Wood, Signals; and Lt. 
S. J. Wilson, I.O.j while Capt. Philp, the M.O., and 
Padre Hoskyns were in confident control of aid post 
arrangements. 

We had now become a part of the third army, and as 
such we were destined to remain until the conclusion of 
the war. General Byng was not a stranger to the 42nd, 
for it was as a part of his corps on Gallipoli that they made 
their first fight against the Turk. As the reports have it, 
" the situation was obscure " on this portion of the third 
army front. As far as we were concerned the 40th 
division had experienced a very severe handling but were 
still fighting gamely. They had recaptured Mory twice 
and were now expected to be in possession of the greater 
part of the village, while the Guards on their left were 
only yielding ground inch by inch. What had happened 
to the right of this was not very clear. The orders of 
the 127th brigade were to go up and relieve some frag- 
ments of the 40th division in Mory on the night of the 
24th, and when darkness fell we set out with this object 
in view, but such plain, straightforward work as that was 
not to be achieved in these queer days. Events moved 
quickly and a change in the situation was an hourly 
occurrence; it therefore devolved upon unit commanders, 
and as far as possible commanders of higher formations 
to act with initiative and resource. 

The head of the brigade column had reached Gomie- 
court when word was received that the enemy was 
attacking again, and there were vague reports that 
Behagnies had either been cajttured or was being hard 
pressed. It was considered inadvisable to continue the 
journey to Mory, and more important to hold up this 
possible enveloping movement. We were therefore de- 
flected to the right, and then those things were done which 
we used to practise on the desert, but never expected to 
put into use in France. We moved across the open in 
artillery formation by battalions and finally deployed 



STOPPING THE HUN. 79 

into a defensive position. Meanwhile the guns were 
hammering away at S.O.S. speed from their hastily im- 
provised positions either on or near the roads. The 
difficulty of all this work was not diminished by the 
darkness, and it was with some astonishment that we 
found the 125th brigade coming through our lines diago- 
nally. One or two stragglers from other divisions came in 
and told stories of heavy enemy attacks, but a gunner 
major rode back from the front on a white horse, and 
said the situation was not so bad as these men's reports 
had intimated. Still, there seemed to be a good deal of 
confusion, and the 7th were somewhat bewildered, not 
knowing quite what to expect next. Meanwhile they 
longed hard for daylight in order to get jheir whereabouts 
and some idea of the lie of the land. 

As daylight approached on the 25th it was obvious, 
from the increasing proximity of rifle fire on our left, 
that Mory had fallen and the line was falling back 
steadily. Quiet seemed to reign now, however, in the 
direction of Behagnies. We later discovered that the 
L.F's. had received orders to push on and cover the 
Behagnies-Sapignies Road, and this they had success- 
fully achieved in the night. At the same time the 126th 
brigade was in touch with the enemy in front of Ervillers, 
so that on the morning of the 25th all three brigades 
were in the front line and were rigging up an impromptu 
battle with the Hun. The enemy soon made his inten- 
tions clear and he commenced a vigorous assault. What 
troops still remained of the 40th and other divisions, when 
they found that the 42nd were in position, gradually 
dribbled through in search of a long-delayed and well- 
earned rest. They had been fighting without respite 
since the morning of the 21st. The 6th Manchesters were 
now on the right of the division in the vicinity of Bihu- 
court, but they were uncertain as to the state of affairs 
on their right. As a matter of fact, although we were 
not aware of it at the time, Bapaume had been taken 
and a large gap had been left in the line south of our 
right flank, through which the Huns were pouring in 
victorious mass. The New Zealand division and one 



80 STOPPING THE HUN. 

brigade of Australians, with the 62nd division on their left 
were hurried forward, and after very severe fighting 
stopped the enemy rush about Hebuterne, some miles 
westward of the position we held on March 25th. 

Meanwhile we were in blissful ignorance of our hazar- 
dous position and the Manchesters were preserving strict 
guard over an exposed right flank. The 6th came in for 
a good deal of heavy fighting in the vicinity of Bihucourt, 
but they held the village all day. The headquarters of 
the 7th was in an old shallow dug-out close to the light 
railway that had been constructed from Achiet-le- Grand 
to run eastwards in the direction of Bullecourt. This 
railway wound its way through a sort of valley to the 
north of which lies Gomiecourt and to the north-east 
Mory. Due east on higher ground are Behagnies and 
Sapignies where the L.F's. were making such a fine stand. 
This high ground continues southwards towards Bihu- 
court and Bapaume, and it was along this ridge that 
most of the day's fighting took place. 

During the previous night the 7th had been spread 
out fanwise in out-posts covering the shallow valley, and 
it was not long after daylight before the enemy began to 
drop shells indiscriminately about this ground. " C " and 
" D " companies were ordered forward to assist the 5th 
and " A " and " B " were left in support. Tanks came up 
and they courageously crawled out over the ridge and 
did some very sound work before being knocked out by 
guns which had been brought up to unwonted proximity. 
It was whilst crawling out to rescue a wounded man of 
the crew of a tank that Sergeant Heath, M.M., was 
mortally wounded. The 127th brigade could not be 
driven from their positions and they dug themselves in, 
in small section posts, confidently awaiting nightfall and 
the next day's fight. The attacks died down and when 
darkness came, digging parties went up to assist in the 
work of consolidation. Events as described above, how- 
ever, had decided otherwise, for about 10 p.m. a 
divisional staff officer arrived with orders to fall back 
to a line of defence between Logeast Wood and Cour- 
celles. 



STOPPING THE HUN. 81 

Casualties had been fairly heavy in this day's work. 
Capt. J. Baker and 2nd.-Lt. B. Taylor had gone down 
wounded, while Col. Bromfield, Capt. Creagh and the 
M.O. had all been slightly wounded by a shell which 
knocked in the entrance to the headquarter's dug-out. 
They remained at duty, although the CO. suffered con- 
siderably from an internal bruise in the stomach which 
made it impossible for him to walk without assistance. 
The arrangements for clearing the wounded became con- 
fused when Gomiecourt was evacuated, for there the 
Advanced Dressing Station had been established. Then 
it was that the Padre displayed his vigour, courage and 
resource. He commandeered a hut close to Achiet and 
had a large number of wounded from various battalions 
collected there. Eventually he was able to get an 
ambulance which carried many of them back to the 
Casualty Clearing Station, but this process suddenly 
stopped. All sorts of conveyances were then seized 
and men were gradually carried back. When the 
order to withdraw became known matters were critical, 
but the Padre continued his labours. Difficulties were 
not diminished when the Hun commenced to drop 5-c/s 
near this spot. Hoskyns was slightly wounded, but he was 
bound up and carried on his self-appointed task until 
some time after the last of the brigade had gone by, leav- 
ing him with no one in front but the Hun. Not until the 
last man had been carried safely off did he leave this 
place, and then he collected various stragglers and marched 
them up as a platoon to join their own units! This, and 
his continuous plucky and considerate work in tending 
bodily as well as spiritual needs during the next few days 
obtained for him a well-earned M.C. 

The night of the 25th-26th was even more strenuous 
than the previous one. About 11.30 p.m. the withdrawal 
commenced, and was very skilfully carried out, so skil- 
fully, in fact, that the German battle outposts could be 
heard firing intermittently for hours after our troops 
had retired. After steady plugging, man-handling 
everything, we reached a system of admirably prepared 
trenches north of Logeast Wood. The pioneer battalion 



82 STOPPING THE HUN. 

7th Northumberland Fusiliers, who had come to the 
division in February, had been working upon them all day, 
and, excellently sited as they were, they inspired everyone 
with a great feeling of confidence. Men took a lively 
interest in their posts, and after a considerable amount 
of organisation sentries were mounted and the battalion 
settled down for a rest until the enemy should arrive. It 
was now 3 a.m. At this hour it so happened that the 
division had received another urgent order to fall back 
still further. Staff officers made their way on foot 
through the congested roads behind the front and searched 
dimly for the various brigades, a most uncertain task in 
view of the rapidity of events. We were found eventually 
and the brigade major aroused us from slumber to trans- 
mit the news. 

Once again the 7th rose up, shouldered their burdens, 
and strode backwards. "What are we going back for? 
What does it all mean? We held up Jerry yesterday — 
why retire?" It all seemed very unsatisfactory and we 
were very tired. Food had naturally been scanty and 
only obtained in snatches, but much energy was being 
consumed. It was a disappointed battalion that straggled 
wearily through Logeast Wood. We were only just in 
time, however, for advance parties of the enemy were 
already entering the east side of the Wood as we (emerged 
from the south-west side. Here we found some explana- 
tion of things. Col. Wedgewood, of the 6th, reported 
bodies of the enemy moving forward to strike in. on our 
southern flank, and this news had the effect of an electric 
shock amongst us. Col. Bromfield at once ordered posi- 
tions to be taken up to face the enemy who were advanc- 
ing from the south and south-east. " A " and " D " 
companies moved out quickly to seize the high ground and 
one or two Lewis guns opened fire at the bodies of grey 
figures in the distance. Meanwhile, however, the brigadier 
had decided to cover the Bucquoy-Ablainzevelle road, 
and so touch up with the 62nd division, who had some hours 
previously occupied a position from Hebuterne to Buc- 
quoy, and were at that moment resisting violent efforts on 
the part of the Hun to turn our right flank. It was, 



STOPPING THE HUN. 83 

therefore, in the latter village where we met the gallant 
Yorkshiremcn of the 2nd line West Riding Territorials. 
Gen. Henley personally assisted in getting the platoons 
of '* B " and " C " companies into position, and then " A " 
and " D " companies were ordered to withdraw to their 
line. 

When the withdrawal had been completed the 7th were 
on the right of the division, with the flank resting on the 
edge of Bucquoy village. The road from Bucquoy to 
Ayette, which was almost south to north, is an important 
one and is marked by a row of trees on each side. As 
one walks from Bucquoy along this road, another 1 road 
branching off to the right from the edge of the village 
is seen leading down to Ablainzevelle. The road junction 
marks the highest portion of ground in the vicinity, and 
there is a long sweep eastwards towards Logeast Wood 
and Achiet-le-Petit. It was when we noticed the latter 
place that the whole irony of the situation broke upon us. 
Eight month's ago we had been enjoying a blissful period 
of rest on this self-same spot, and such features as we 
now gazed upon had merely been used for the purpose of 
containing a supposed enemy in the working out of a 
tactical exercise — a sham fight. Now — the enemy could 
not be more real or more alive. He was here with the 
sole intent of destroying us by any possible method if 
we would not vacate our position. What happened? 

The 7th was assured that this was at last the spot where 
resistance would be offered. There were no trenches, 
and the men lay out in the open on the sloping ground 
east and south of the Ablainzevelle road, with intent to dig 
in as soon as possible. " C " company were on the right, 
and they were rather fortunate in being on the site of an 
old camp, because in these days of modern war it is 
necessary to dig a hole in a tent even, as a safe-guard 
against bombing. " C " company then disposed them- 
selves amongst these circular holes, and later found them 
useful protection when the heavy shelling commenced. 
" B " company, in the centre, were totally exposed, while 
" A " company on the left, in touch with the 6th, were 
almost as bad, although two platoons were able to make 



84 STOPPING THE HUN. 

use of the sunk road. " D " company were behind in 
support and could occupy portions of an old Boche 
trench running east and west. Headquarters lay out in 
the Ayette road at first until an old Boche dug-out, not 
completed, was found farther up the road, and then they 
got into it. Platoons had barely been allotted their areas 
when clumps of Huns began to appear on the ridge we 
had just vacated. They proved to be teams of light 
machine gunners, and without preliminaries in the matter 
of searching for cover, they promptly opened fire, and 
soon there was a perfect hail of grazing bullets swishing 
over the battalion area. German officers calmly walked 
about directing operations and the whole scene resembled 
a " stunt on the pictures " rather than modern war. They 
had made a mistake, though, and if they were seeking 
dramatic effect it was only short lived. Our men were 
delighted at the perfect target they presented on the sky- 
line, and rat-tat-tatted merrily in reply to the Hun swish. 
By this time also " D " company of the Machine Gun 
battalion had taken up a position and they also joined 
in the conversation. The enemy then considered the 
advisability of concealment, and he disappeared from view. 
Small parties of his infantry meanwhile had dribbled 
forward, considerably helped by old systems of trenches 
which extended down into the low ground. Our men were 
ready, however, and met them with a heavy fusillade 
whenever they showed themselves. 

Between Logeast Wood and Ablainzevelle was a camp 
of Nisson huts, which had been protected against bomb- 
ing, in the usual manner, by thick walls of earth round 
each hut. The enemy was now making the fullest possible 
use of these, for they afforded him most excellent pro- 
tection. Luckily they were on a piece of ground fully 
exposed to us, and we were able to get some idea as to 
his movements in that direction. It was soon evident 
that they were to be utilised as a stepping stone to a 
further advance. First, light M.G's. and snipers were 
brought up, and these dribbled out of the huts into Ablain- 
zevelle, where they established themselves to the dis- 
comfort of our men, for they were well on our left flank 



STOPPING THE HUN. 85 

and could take some of our position in enfilade. The 
battalion suffered a number of casualties from this cause. 
Unfortunately also, our guns had not got a clear con- 
ception of the. state of affairs, and one battery fairly 
peppered the H.Q. road with shrapnel, inflicting about 
a dozen casualties, while others covered our own forward 
positions with the same kind of shell, and so added to 
the list. I am convinced that there is nothing more de- 
moralising to a soldier in defence than to come under 
the fire of his own guns, so, to say the least, these 
moments were very trying. The difficulty of communica- 
ting with the rear caused a further delay in the correction 
of this serious blunder, and our men had to maintain a 
grip on their positions whilst subjected to fire from both 
sides, for by this time the enemy had got his guns up, 
impudently close to the front line, evidently with a view 
to a further advance, and was using them to advantage 
Some of them could be distinctly seen on the outskirts 
of Logeast Wood, and it was obvious that most of the 
others responsible for our discomfort were in the Wood 
itself. Further away the roads from Grevillers, Bapaume, 
Loupart Wood, etc., could be seen choked with masses of 
advancing Germans. If only we had had a few 60-pounders, 
what perfect execution we should have accomplished. 
There were batteries of guns, companies of infantry, 
columns of transport, staff-cars, and all the impedimenta 
of a moving army. I expect the heart of every Hun of 
them swelled with the pride of achievement. They were 
marching to the last victory that was going to obliterate 
the hated English and end the war. They were not yet 
aware that just here there was a row of troops, from 
right to left, New Zealanders, Australians, Yorkshiremen, 
Lancashiremen, and Guards, who did not intend to 
concede another yard of ground. 

How we longed for the heavy guns during the days that 
followed, but they could not, of course, come into action 
until the infantry line had been stabilised. Weeks later we 
heard stories of the doings on those roads behind the lines, 
and perhaps we should not judge too harshly, for traffic 
control was difficult and there was obviously an excessive 



86 STOPPING THE HUN. 

demand upon transport. Add to this the disturbing lack 
of news and the peculiar shape of the front, for whereas 
we were facing east, the 62nd division with the exception 
of one battalion in Bucquoy were facing south, and 
some explanation may be found for the slight degree of 
confusion. The divisional artillery, 18 -pounders and 4-5 
howitzers, remained faithful to the infantry, and the 42nd 
gunners never showed up to prouder advantage than they 
did during those stern days. It was not they who had 
fired upon us. They were too close to us to make any 
mistake in that way, for during the heaviest fighting they 
had their guns within 1,600 yards of the front line, and 
where cover was unobtainable either for gun or man. 
Needless to say they suffered very heavily both in 
personnel and material, for the enemy aircraft soon found 
them, and they were hammered and gassed mercilessly. 
Their forward observation officers maintained a liaison 
with the H.Q. of the infantry battalions, and in addition to 
courageous work in searching for targets and correcting 
gun fire they showed the greatest consideration for our 
needs. 

Although the 7th occupied a commanding position it 
was singularly bare and exposed so that cover was 
difficult to find. During the first few hours " D " com- 
pany of the M.G's. had all their guns but one put out 
of action, and almost all their officers and men 
became casualties. They had pluckily worked their 
weapons in the hastily sited positions until knocked out — 
not before, however, they had carried out savage execu- 
tion amongst the more venturesome Huns, and they 
certainly had the effect of making the remainder hesitate. 
The nature of the ground made it difficult also for the 
battalion observers to work, for it was evident the enemy 
F.O.O's. were specially searching for such people, and 
the moment they fixed up a telescope down came a 
hurricane of shelling, the close proximity of the Boche 
guns making their fire extremely accurate and deadly. 
The result was that after the first day's fighting, of the 
observers only two, Cpl. Maguire and Pte. Wilmer, re- 
mained. Not to be daunted by the fate of their comrades 



STOPPING THE HUN. 87 

they clung to their task, and when shelled out of one 
spot immediately found another. They kept the enemy 
under close watch and strung together most valuable 
chains of evidence as to their movements, gallant work for 
which both received the M.M. 

The signallers also suffered heavily. Wires were difficult 
to keep in repair but the linesmen continued to go out 
during the heaviest shelling, while others maintained a 
system of lamp signalling to the brigade behind a pile 
of ammunition boxes until a 5-9 dropped plumb amongst 
them with dire results. Other signallers at once found 
a new spot and kept communication going. But these 
were searching days for everyone, when physical endur- 
ance and mental stamina were stretched to their furthest 
limit. As the day wore on, the guns that we had seen 
in the distance gradually came into action against us 
until shells were raining down continuously on all parts 
of our line. Obviously, the enemy infantry had given up 
the hope of further progress, for our men were like 
terriers, keenly watching for the slightest sign of a Hun 
helmet, and the artillery were left to do their worst upon 
us. Just before dusk the M.O., Capt. Philp, was killed by 
a shell whilst bending over a wounded man on a stretcher. 
No cover could be found for an aid-post, and it had to 
be established in the open at a convenient spot on the 
ground. In fact, the only dug-out in the area was that 
occupied by H.Q., and it was shared by Col. Wedgwood 
of the 6th, so that two battalion H.Q. were confined in 
a spot no more than seven feet square, while the entrance 
faced the enemy in an exposed part of the road. 

Darkness had brought quiet at last, but no rest. 
Rations had come up and they had to be distributed. 
Similarly with ammunition and water. Also the enemy 
might attempt a night assault, for it was not to be 
expected that he would be satisfied with this very pro- 
nounced re-entrant in his line. The 6th, whose line 
ran close to the edge of Ablainzevelle, sent a patrol 
into the village. The small parties of Boche fled at 
their approach and left two M.G's. in then" hands. Our 
patrols searched all the low ground in front but could 
not find the enemy. 



88 STOPPING THE HUN. 

Next morning, March 27th, about 9 o'clock, the battle 
re-opened with redoubled vigour. Fresh enemy troops 
had been brought up and they made a determined attempt 
to push forward. A terrific bouncing barrage came 
down upon our positions, but the men stood up to it, in 
spite of the heavy casualties, and opened fire upon the 
groups of Boche who attempted to get across the open. 
The main infantry assault took place near Ablainzevelle, 
and here the 6th had the work of repelling them, but after 
some hand to hand fighting the enemy fell back and 
confined his energies to sniping and M.G. work. Mean- 
while, the landscape was steadily changing its appearance 
in the 7th sector. What had once been good roads and 
respectable fields were shell-pitted and strewn with debris, 
a pile of S.A.A. boxes that had been left behind had been 
hit and in the fire that resulted there was a disturbing 
display of fireworks from the exploding cartridges. The 
trees were losing their accustomed beauty, many having 
been smashed down completely. But picture the trepi- 
dation of the aid-post detachment, now in charge of Capt. 
Greville, for they lay close to a huge dump of shells 
that was liable to be hit at any moment. During the 
quieter days Bucquoy had evidently been an ammunition 
park, and as not much of the stuff had been removed, it 
was an exciting spot to fight in. 

All day this steady pounding continued, and when the 
enemy infantry definitely gave up their efforts to get 
near our line they supplemented the shelling by an 
unceasing hail of traversing M.G. fire. Yet, through 
this the runners and stretcher bearers performed their 
appointed tasks, and there was no period when perfect 
touch was not maintained between the CO. and any part 
of the front line and also back to brigade H.Q., nor were 
there cases of wounded men being left unduly exposed 
after they had been hit. The constant stream of runners, 
etc., of both battalions converging on the H.Q. dug-out, 
exposed to observation as it was, soon made the truth 
of the matter plain to the enemy, and he began to pay 
attention to it with 5'9's. An anxious moment came 
when he hit the entrance and buried a number of men 



STOPPING THE HUN. 89 

standing in the improvised steps. All were extricated, 
however, and those who were wounded carried away. 
The entrance was cleared, steps constructed again, and 
the work carried on as usual. " D " company lost its 
commander again, for Lieut. Morten was hit, and this left 
Lieut. Gresty in charge. 

Evening again brought a welcome respite, and it was 
decided to minimise casualties by reducing the garrisons 
of the front trenches, for by now a sort of trench had 
been made and a little wire had been put out in front 
the previous night. One platoon per company was taken 
out and sent back, where they were placed under the 
command of Col. Blatherwick of the 5th, who remained 
in brigade support. Daylight of March 28th brought] a 
resumption of the enemy effort at least to straighten 
his line and masses of Huns could be seen gradually 
collecting in the Nisson huts. In the previous days the 
18-pounders had kept this spot under fire, but Col. 
Bromfield decided to call for howitzer assistance to smash 
down the earth walls round the huts, a plan which met 
with great success. Our shells dropped plumb amongst 
them, and Huns could be seen dashing about in all direc- 
tions in search of more effective cover. Our shrapnel 
barrage had been considerably improved also, and the 
moment the enemy left their positions it promptly came 
down and drove them to earth again. The 7th were worn 
out, and the men were losing their spruce appearance, 
but rifles and L.G's. were kept clean, and amidst the 
terrific shelling of that day they asked for nothing better 
than that Jerry would try to come across to give them 
an opportunity for revenge. The enemy's guns had 
increased in number, chiefly the heavy variety, and it was 
now his obvious intention to blow us off the ridge. The 
heavy pounding never ceased. Many gallant deeds were 
performed by runners, stretcher-bearers and ammunition- 
carrying-platoons through this inferno. Lieut. Bagshaw 
was awarded the M.C. for his work in leading ammunition 
fatigues, but the supreme decoration of all — the seal of 
death — came to a large number of the Fleur-de-lys. 
Amongst the officers — Capt. Tinker, Lieut. Walter Thorp 



90 STOPPING THE HUN. 

and Lieut. Ludlam were killed outright, while Lieuts. 
Woods and McLaine were mortally wounded. 

After a final effort in the late afternoon to advance 
against our positions in a line of small sections, which 
was met with the usual devastating fire, the enemy gave it 
up and occupied the remaining hours of daylight with 
fierce shelling. Our heavy artillery had at last returned 
and got to work and their shelling began to have effect, 
for it was noticeable that the Boche shells were now 
arriving from a greater distance than formerly. The 
6th had an exciting episode that day. A party of 
courageous Germans, led by an officer, had pushed 
forward and were throwing bombs amongst them. 
Lieut. Mall decided this must be stopped, and he led 
one platoon over in a short sharp charge. Fifteen Huns 
were bayonetted, and Mall returned triumphantly with 
the officer and one man as prisoners. They proved to be 
Jaegers, and although the officer told us nothing the man 
was very voluble. It was some comfort to find that of one 
fresh battalion that had entered Ablainzevelle, about 
forty only remained. A couple of packets of Woodbines 
were found in the pockets of the officer — loot from the 
canteen at Achiet-le-Grand. The soldier told us that 
this form of German enterprise was reserved for the 
officers. 

This day, March 28th, marked the end of the heavy 
fighting. The German thrust had been checked, and the 
effort to reach the Coast had failed. A glance at the map 
will show that, had the advance continued here the Arras 
position would have been seriously threatened, and the 
Germans would have been well on their way to Abbe- 
ville and the Channel Ports. That night the 7th were 
overjoyed to hear that they were to be relieved. The 
L.F's. took over the brigade sector, but the relief had 
been ordered so suddenly that there was no time for 
reconnaissance, with the result that it was almost dawn 
before the last platoon of the battalion had struggled 
over the crest line to the old system of trenches 1,500 
yards further back in dead ground. Heavy rain during 
the evening had converted these neglected trenches into 



STOPPING THE HUN. 91 

veritable ditches of mud. A few cubby holes had been 
constructed by the previous occupants, and filled with 
mud though they were, our men dropped into them and 
fell fast asleep. It was the first undisturbed sleep they 
had had for nearly a week, a period which had seemed 
more like a month. During the afternoon the battalion 
received orders to furnish a billeting party which had to 
proceed to Gommccourt. Billeting — this was indeed bliss. 
They received a rude shock on arrival however to find 
that the word was a misnomer. We were to relieve the 
15th Hampshires of the 41st division, who had just been 
hurried back from Italy. They occupied trenches on the 
edge of Gommecourt village in support to the front line, 
which was only about 400 yards away. The astonishment 
of the battalion on arrival about 3 a.m., on March 30th, 
when they found the nature of their new headquarters, 
can be easily imagined. They were indeed "fed up" — 
back to the old game, mucking about in a muddy trench, 
keeping a keen look-out when on sentry (for owing to a 
gap in the front line a portion of our position virtually 
was front line), and still shell dodging. We were also 
becoming rather disreputable for the weather had broken, 
and mud became the ruling element. In this manner, 
Easter Sunday was spent. But there were cheering rumours 
about going back for recuperation, and these kept our 
spirits up. 

April 1st — All Fools Day — we might have known. The 
brigade went back to the old spot and thus settled all 
rumours for the present. Our work was not yet done. 
The 7th went to the support trenches they had recently 
vacated, but the 41st divisional R.E's. had been busy upon 
them during our absence, and a few habitable bivvies 
had been made. The 5th and 6th were further back 
behind Essarts. The Hun had converted Essarts into a 
perfect hell, and at irregular intervals he subjected it to 
tremendous bombardments with his largest guns, par- 
ticularly during the night. Our transport knew something 
about this, for their road passed through the village when 
bringing up rations at night. In this connection Lieut. 
Wilkinson distinguished himself by the courageous 



92 STOPPING THE HUN. 

manner in which he got his column through during the 
most anxious moments. His job at this time was not 
an enviable one, but we could always rely upon his 
arrival each evening, very seldom late, with his store of 
rations, water, rum and bundle of letters. After three days 
in reserve the brigade took over the front line, in prac- 
tically the same position as before, but there had been a 
readjustment of divisional boundaries, so that we were 
now on the left, while the 125th brigade were on the right, 
and their line ran in front of Bucquoy. The 7th 
were in support at first, so we only moved about 400 ,yards 
to trenches vacated by the 8th Manchesters. 

At dawn on April 5th the Hun commenced to send over 
thousands of gas shells in the direction of Essarts. It 
was a dull, misty morning — perfect conditions for this 
form of devilry — and we could hear the brutes whistling 
and whining over our heads for more than three hours. 
The intention was, of course, to silence our guns, and 
the object of this was to make an attack upon Bucquoy 
all the easier. He came over at the L.F's. and there was 
heavy fighting all the morning, but he did not progress 
much. The 8th L.F's. suffered severely, losing all their 
officers, including Lt.-Col. Davies (previously of the 6th 
Manchesters), who was killed. The enemy's intention had 
been to take the village and push on with a view to 
straightening the line, but he only captured the eastern 
portion of the village, and that only after very heavy 
losses. Similar progress had previously been made 
against the division on the right, and this made the L.F. 
situation impossible. We afterwards learnt that a large 
number of gas casualties had gone down from the Essarts 
district. In their solicitude during the bitterest days the 
division had called upon the battle surplus of each 
unit, and had made a composite battalion of them to act 
in reserve amongst the trenches N.E. of Gommecourt. 
These people, as well as the gunners, came in for the gas 
shelling, and it was very disappointing to hear of our 
own men, like C.S.M. Shields, Sgt. Tabbron, etc., who 
had been left behind as battle surplus, going down 
gassed. Fortunately, most of them rejoined the battalion 



STOPPING THE HUN. 93 

later. During this day's fighting some L.F's. were 
staggered to find an old French woman in a cellar in 
Bucquoy, and they had the utmost difficulty in persuading 
her to leave her " home." That was her abode and she 
was prepared to live in it whatever the conditions. 

The next few days resulted in a complete victory for 
mud. Rain continued, and work as we would the con- 
ditions could not be conquered. Men stood in it, and 
when they could, slept in it. To move about meant 
wading through it, in places up to the thighs, and this was 
steadily wearing out the last flicker of humanity and grit 
in our men. Casualties were also increasing. Lieut. Bate- 
man was wounded in Essarts whilst on his; way back to 
the battalion from a Course, and in " B " company 2nd- 
Lt. Woodworth was hit. Eventually we relieved the 5th 
in the front line near Ablainzevelle, where we found the 
trenches in an even worse condition, if that were possible. 
Real joy possessed our souls, although it is doubtful 
whether at the time we were capable of appreciating it, 
when the news was definite that the division was to go 
right out for a rest. On the night of April 7th, the 2nd 
7th West Ridings (62nd division) came up and relieved 
us, and the Fleur de Lys set their faces joyfully to the 
west and marched off in good spirits, although with ex- 
hausted bodies, conscious of having done their duty in 
stopping the mad rush of the Huns. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Worrying the Hun. 

NEVER since the weary entry into Katia did the 
7th Manchesters present such a sorry appear- 
ance as they did when they straggled into 
Soustre in the grey hours of April 8th. It was an effort 
to drag one leg in front of another, and our feet were 
sodden and painful. Almost every particle of clothing 
and equipment was smothered with red, clayey mud, and 
thin, tired faces were covered with a many days' growth 
of beard. Here we struggled into a row of lorries and 
were carried off to Vauchelles to be housed in huts 
vacated by some army school. After a good meal and a 
sleep we were roused in the middle of the afternoon to 
be told that another move had to be accomplished. With 
imprecations on the staff and all its works we fell in 
and marched off to Louvencourt to occupy billets, and 
were at last assured that we had settled for a rest. 

The next few days we spent in recuperation and 
cleaning up. The rapidity with which the men recovered 
their smart appearance was one of the striking features 
of the war, and indicated the wonderful desire for fitness 
that the Britisher had acquired in his soldiering days. 
Col Bromfield, however, had not been able to withstand 
the strain, and to the regret of everyone departed jto 
hospital with pleurisy, a circumstance made all 
the more depressing when we learnt that his return was 
highly improbable. A more popular CO. never com- 
manded the 7th, and we were always proud of his high 
opinion of us. In his dealings with all ranks, from the 
second in command to the lowest private, he had ever 



WORRYING THE HUN. 95 

proved himself a perfect gentleman, while his control of 
matters during the most anxious times inspired an un- 
swerving confidence. As a gallant leader and comman- 
der his name stands high in the records of the battalion. 

It was by no means certain that the enemy would not 
open out with another onslaught on this front, for he was 
making desperate efforts to reach Amiens further south, 
and a break through here would make his task much easier. 
With the assistance of Chinese labour lines of trenches had 
been dug, and they were speedily wired in by batches of 
Royal Engineers and Labour Corps. The first system to 
be defended if the front line collapsed was called the 
Purple Line. Behind that was the Red Line, while fur- 
ther back still was the Brown Line, protecting Doullens. 
It was here during these troubled days that the historic 
meeting took place between Sir Douglas Haig and 
Marshal Foch, when the latter took over supreme com- 
mand. As well as regaining lost energy the 42nd division 
had to be responsible for a portion of the Red Line in the 
event of a break through, so at various times parties of 
officers and N.C.O's. made trips to it for reconnaisance 
purposes, and schemes were evolved for the possible dis- 
position of companies and the siting of L.G. posts, etc., 
under the leadership of Major Higham, now commanding 
the battalion. 

After a week at Louvencourt we moved up into the line 
again, the* division relieving the 37th division in the 
Hebuterne and Rossignol Wood sector. No one was 
sorry to get into a fresh part of the: line. We felt that 
we did not wish to see the Bucquoy-Ablainzevelle road 
again! For some time now the 42nd had been one of 
the divisions of the IV. Corps, commanded by Lt.-Gen. 
Harper, the one-time commander of the famous 51st 
(Highland Territorial) division, and as such we were to 
remain until Germany was defeated. We were in goodly 
company, for the other divisions were the New Zealanders, 
the 37th and eventually the 5th, but we were never put 
to shame at any time. Indeed, the spirit of "Go one 
better " was always amplified by deeds, and by none 
more assiduously than the 7th Manchesters. 



96 WORRYING THE HUN. 

Hebuterne and the immediate district was the " happy 
hunting ground " of the division until the final grand hunt 
in August. As in 1914, the village stood on the high-water 
mark of the advancing tide of Huns. In their last 
effort they had captured it but the Australians had driven 
them out again. If a visit be paid to this part of France 
the reason for its importance to either side will be seen 
at once, for it stands near the northern end of a com- 
manding ridge which runs north and south, and from 
which good observation is obtained for many miles in 
all directions. This was the ridge over which the Huns 
had swarmed in March, to be thrown back again, after 
a severe dispute, by the newly arrived Anzacs, so that 
the present position was good for us but poor for " Jerry." 
Hebuterne was the culminating point of a very pro- 
nounced Hun salient, and our line swept round in a 
noticeable curve from the corner of Bucquoy to Beaumont 
Hamel, almost touching the south-eastern edge of the 
village. Looking north was the famous ground where 
Gommecourt had once stood. In 191 7 the French had 
decided that Gommecourt should be preserved in its battle- 
scarred state as a national monument, for the blood of 
many brave soldiers had there been shed during the fierce 
Somme fighting of 191 6. Notices were put up, huge 
white boards with black printing in French and 
English, enjoining no one to interfere with the trenches 
and wire, etc., but to leave things just as they were. Oh, 
the irony of it! Here was the Hun again pounding, 
pounding with fierce wrath and insistent desire to smash 
his way through. Those self-same notices were shell- 
shattered, while in his zeal to destroy the dug-outs which 
he knew so well in Gommecourt, for he had made them, 
he dropped, in one morning, more than thirty 15 -inch 
shells in the village. To the right of Gommecourt could 
be seen the naked stumps of Rossignol Wood, a beautiful 
name reminiscent of delightful summer evenings. But 
the song of the nightingale was now gone, and the only 
tunes to be heard were the deadly rat-tat-tat of Boche 
machine guns and the fierce hissing of our shrapnel bullets 



WORRYING THE HUN. 97 

through the decayed undergrowth, the time for this devil's 
music being regularly thundered out by the crash, crash, 
of heavy howitzers. 

East of our ridge, and parallel to it, was a long gentle 
valley. In the old days the Germans had been content 
to build their trenches half-way up the eastern slope, 
and the French had faced them on the opposite side, but 
now the Huns in the foolish arrogance of their hearts must 
needs swarm over the whole valley, and offer themselves 
and their works as targets for our searching gun-fire. 
On the summit of their ridge and due east of Hebu- 
terne is Puisieux-au-Mont, in almost the same condition 
of devastation as Gommecourt, while further beyond, the 
trees of Achiet can be seen. During the summer months 
those who wished could reckon up the times of arrival 
and depature of trains at the German railhead at 
Achiet, for the smoke from the engines could be dis- 
tinctly observed. Night after night our planes droned 
heavily over to the accompaniment of wonderful displays 
of " flaming onions," parachute flares, searchlights, and 
anti-aircraft gun-fire, and bombed these back areas with 
demoralising effect. Further along the enemy ridge to 
the right, and closer in, was what the trench maps grimly 
described as " Serre (site of)." If you want testimony 
of the complete destructive power of British shell-fire, go to 
Serre. The roads round about were marked on these maps, 
but ironically labelled " Damaged by shell-fire." I think 
the word " obliterated," openly admitted in the easel of 
one or two, would have applied to all. In other words the 
whole terrain bore the traces of the thunderous days of 
1 91 6, and nothing of value was left standing. Thus, when 
keen observers set their maps and scanned the low 
ground for Mark Copse, Luke Copse, Touvent Farm, 
Observation Wood, or Red Cottage, there was nothing 
visible. It was all a myth. Further south the masses 
of white chalk thrown up by the historic crater at 
Beaumont Hamel were useful for they served as a land- 
mark and helped to locate other points of interest. 



98 WORRYING THE HUN. 

Compared with the enemy we were in a relatively 
happy position. The ridge which contained the front line 
shielded all the immediate back area from direct observa- 
tion, so that even the garrisons of the support trenches 
could wander about in the open, while if there was 
" nothing doing," the men back in reserve could lie out 
in the long grass and bask in the sunshine. This was all 
very comforting and relieved the strain of war very con- 
siderably, but the advantages in the matter of organisa- 
tion were illimitable. Rations came up in the middle of 
the day, and the limbers and water carts, in singles of 
course on account of balloon observation, trundled up 
the road in the afternoon to a point within four hundred 
yards of the front line! As the men put it "We were 
laughing " — especially when the enemy once or twice 
attempted a relief before darkness over their exposed 
ground, and were severely knocked about for their pains. 

But to return to Hebuterne and the days of our first 
acquaintance with it. Many people were convinced that the 
Hun would attack again, and our higher command had 
found support for this gloomy prospect amongst their 
archives, so that we were enjoined to remain on the 
strictest qui vive. The first day's work consisted in 
re-organisation of the line, based upon the principle of 
defence " in depth." This meant that a battalion, for 
instance, did not expose the whole of its personnel in 
the front line to be obliterated in the first shock of attack, 
but they must be disposed in the best tactical positions, 
with a slight garrison in front and the remainder ranged 
along behind. Speaking very generally a unit was made 
responsible for the defence of an area, and the principle 
of defence was to hold it, not by successive lines of 
defence, but by a series of mutually supporting posts 
arranged chequerwise and in depth. This arrangement 
was intended to break up the enemy's attack formation, 
to stop parts of it and to allow other parts to advance, but 
to advance only in such places as would make them 
most vulnerable to counter-attack. This principle applied 
also down to the company and even the platoon. It is easily 
seen that a good deal of organisation was demanded from 



WORRYING THE HUN. 99 

the battalion commander, while the smallest unit comman- 
der, perhaps a lance-corporal, was left with much responsi- 
bility. In view of the possibly impending attack, Hebu- 
terne was hurriedly put into a sound state of defence by 
the untiring energy of Gen. Henley and his subordinates. 
Whilst all this was going on our patrolling was exces- 
sively active, and every night No Man's Land fell into 
our hands right up to the enemy posts. If possible we 
were to " Snaffle a Hun " with a view to identification 
and information about the supposed attack, and when it 
was discovered that the Boche was too alert in spite of 
persistent small attempts by the Manchesters and the 
L.F's. this was regarded as good proof by the attack 
theorists. However, nothing materialised beyond the 
steady arrival of Boche shells of all calibres, and we 
were not sorry. 

When the brigade moved out into reserve the 7th had 
to dig themselves into the earth near Chateau-de-la-Haie 
north of Sailly-au-Bois. In less than twenty-four hours 
small groups of men had made a hole for themselves,, 
covered it with an elephant shelter, and camouflaged it 
with sods. It was heavy work while it lasted, but it was 
necessary to work quickly because of hostile aircraft. 
A neighbouring battery of 60-pounders were righteously 
indignant at our invasion, but still the staff said we were 
to go there, and there we went. On the other hand it was 
by no means comforting to realise that once the Hun 
spotted the 60-pounders we should be partakers in the 
unwelcome attention that would probably follow, so we 
were quits anyhow. Luckily the enemy did not see us, 
or he was displaying a lofty contempt, for after five day's 
residence the battalion moved up into the line at Gomme- 
court, having had no mishap. During this period our lists 
of " Bucquoy decorations " came through, and they were 
very gratifying. In addition to the M.C's. already men- 
tioned, Capt. Nidd and 2nd-Lt. Harland were similarly 
rewarded for their work as company commanders. Sgt. 
McHugh, who had acted as C.S.M. of " C " company, 
received a bar to his M.M., and Sgt. Heath, who had 



ioo WORRYING THE HUN. 

died of wounds, was decorated in like manner. Twenty- 
four other men received the Military Medal, their names 
being recorded in the appendix at the end of the book. 

On April 30th the new CO., Lt.-Col. Manger, of the 
Durham L.I., arrived. A regular soldier of many years' 
standing, he was pleased to be sent again to a territorial 
battalion, for he had learnt the value of these troops whilst 
commanding the 2nd 9th King's Liverpool Regiment of 
the 57th division. He joined the battalion at Gommecourt 
and Major Higham immediately went down for a rest. 
There was very little of outside interest during the 
succeeding days beyond the usual work of consolidation 
and keeping the enemy under closest possible observation. 
Still, the battalion was glad to be relieved on May 6th, 
the whole division coming out for a good period of rest. 

The 127th brigade were given camp areas around Henu, 
divisional headquarters being at Pas. We made the 
most of these May weeks, filled with delightful sunshine, 
and, as events worked out, it was as well we did, for it 
was the last long rest period we were to get until after 
the armistice. Important changes took place in the 
battalion about this time. Major Higham and Capt. 
Townson, both pre-war officers of the 7th, severed their 
active service connection with us by being invalided to 
England, the former's place being taken by Major Rae 
of the Liverpool Scottish. Amongst a draft of officers 
that we received from a division that had been broken 
on the fifth army front was Capt. Allen, M.C., whose 
original unit was the 6th Manchesters. He was put in 
command of "A" company. R.S.M. Anlezark, of the 1st 
battalion, was posted to us for duty, and A/R.S.M. Clough 
succeeded R.Q.M.S. Ogden, who had returned to England 
after a long period of hard and useful work with the 7th. 
It was not many weeks after this period of rest that 
another long-standing and popular officer was lost to the 
7th; this was Capt. Nidd, M.C. We had always known 
that his grit and determination exceeded his physical 
capacity, but his splendid sense of duty led him to ignore 
this fact, although it was common knowledge that had he 
so wished he could have been invalided out of the army 



WORRYING THE HUN. 101 

long before. After severe trials on Gallipoli, a campaign 
he went through from June to the evacuation (he was one 
of the very few men to whom that evacuation ,was 
iiksome), he had had a relapse in hospital in Egypt for 
some weeks. The Bucquoy fight, however, had proved too 
much for him, and he never really recovered from the ill- 
effects of it. This was accentuated by the death of two 
of his near and dear friends — Lt. W. Thorp for whom, 
as one of his subalterns, he had a particular esteem, and 
Capt. Tinker. The latter was a pre-war officer of the 7th, 
while Thorp had gone out to the Sudan in the ranks, 
served through Gallipoli with distinction (vide Major 
Hurst's book) and then received a commission early in 
1 91 6. Capt. Tinker's record with the battalion was one 
of steady confidence. After being invalided to England 
from a wound received on Gallipoli, he rejoined in Egypt 
in Feb. 191 6, and was immediately given command of 
" A " company. From that day he had always been 
amongst us, and, except when on leave or on a course, 
he was with his company, in the line! or out of it. In 
fact, it was a record of "full steam ahead" until the 
day he was killed amongst his men. What Tinker was 
to "A" so was Nidd to " B " company, and his greatest 
regret, when at last hospital claimed him, was in leaving 
the men whom he knew so well. His departure |was 
followed by a long illness, and it was a great blow to 
his friends to hear of his death after the armistice in his 
own home at Cheadle Hulme. His name can be added 
to the long list of victims of the great German offensive 
in March. 

Strict training was indulged in during these weeks, and 
in addition hot, laborious days were occupied by rehearsals 
of the manning of the Red Line in the neighbourhood of 
Souastre, to say nothing of skeleton counter-attacks upon 
Beer Trench, Rum Trench, and Stout Trench, near Gom- 
mecourt. We never knew the point of these names unless 
they were to act as a stimulant to the vigour of our 
thrusts, the troops labouring under the delusion that the 
trenches were filled with the liquids indicated. At all 
events they were not there during the rehearsals in spite 



102 WORRYING THE HUN. 

of the hot weather. But if these diversions caused us to 
attain the boiling point of excitement, the arrival of 
General Byng on May 21st to witness a special stunt by 
the 7th almost burst the thermometer. A source of 
some interest was the presence of an American bat- 
talion consisting of raw troops of three weeks' New York 
training, to which the 127th brigade was acting as god- 
father. They worked diligently and with a keen apprecia- 
tion of any hints supplied to them by their British friends. 
Also, not to be outdone by our frequent displays of 
football, they regularly utilised our ground for baseball, 
of which game they possessed a few brilliant exponents. 
We soon grew to like our new allies, and we were rather 
sorry when they departed to join their own division. 

On June 6th the 42nd division took over the line once 
more and were not relieved of responsibility of the front 
until Sept. 6th, sixteen days after the big offensive had 
commenced. The 7th occupied the part of the front which 
we knew so well at Hebuterne, relieving a battalion of the 
New Zealand Division. The " Diggers " had worked hard 
upon these trenches with the result that they were now 
in excellent condition. A good spell of weather also 
assisted in the comfort of the troops. Col. Manger's 
policy was to give the Hun no rest, and he began to put 
his principles into practice at Hebuterne. As soon as 
we arrived, a thorough reconnaissance of the enemy 
positions was made, and we began to make preparation 
for a raid of some magnitude. This was carried out by 
" B " company, of which Capt. Grey Burn was now in 
command, and the officers selected to go over with the 
raiders were Lieut. Wender, D.C.M., who had previously 
served with the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia, 2nd-Lt. 
Milne and 2nd-Lt. Goodier. Goodier had been a sergeant 
in " C " company, and for his excellent services at 
Bucquoy had been recommended for promotion in the 
field to the commissioned ranks, a distinction which came 
through while we were at Henu. 

It was known that the enemy held his front line in a 
series of isolated posts, each armed with light machine 
guns. Curiously enough, whether through lack of material 



WORRYING THE HUN. 103 

or not we never knew, he paid little or no attention to 
wiring in these days, except in utilising what old wire 
lay about. One of these posts was located within one 
hundred yards of our front line in Fusilier Trench, and 
this, it was decided, should be raided. At 1 a.m. on the 
morning of June 16th a three minutes' shrapnel barrage 
was opened on the enemy's trench, while a box barrage 
of H E. was placed all round the portion to be raided. 
At the end of this time the boys leapt over in four 
parties, three to make for the trench and the fourth 
to act as support and as a covering party for with- 
drawal. Then it was found that the shelling had 
hardly been sufficient for numerous enemy flares 
went up, throwing daylight over the whole scene, and 
our men were greeted by heavy machine gun fire. 
Wender, who was on the right, jumped over first and 
rapidly dashed off for the Boche trench, leaving his men 
well behind. He was never seen or heard of again, and 
it must be presumed that he was killed in the trench. 
Goodier got his men across on the left and they jumped 
into the trench, only to find it filled with concertina barbed 
wire, so they came out again and worked their way along 
the top to the centre, being by this time heavily bombed. 
They came to a party of Huns who immediately fled, 
but Goodier seized one and he and his now tiny party re- 
turned triumphantly with their prisoner and with fragments 
of bombs in their bodies. Milne, having ranged over 
part of the Boche trench to find no one, covered the with- 
drawal and then brought his party in. It was an extra- 
ordinary show in which everyone had displayed con- 
siderable pluck, and the taking of one prisoner had just 
converted it into a success, but we had sustained a large 
number of casualties, most of them, fortunately, only 
slight. Of the officers, Goodier was scratched, and Milne 
had a bullet through his arm, whilst among those who 
were not actually with the raiders Lt. C. S. Wood, the 
signalling officer, was somewhat badly wounded, his work 
being taken over later by 2nd-Lt. Smith, and Lt. S. J. 
Wilson was slightly wounded. 2nd-Lt. Goodier was awarded 
the M.C., Sgt. Fleetwood and Sgt. Green the D.C.M., 



104 WORRYING THE HUN. 

while five others received the M.M. for this night's work. 
This was the concluding page of our first chapter in the 
front line, for we then moved out to Sailly in reserve. 

When the brigade went into the line again it was to 
take over the sector to the right of Hebuterne on the 
ridge previously mentioned. The most important feature 
about this part of the line was La Signy Farm, which 
lay just below the crest on the eastern side of the ridge. 
The ruins of the farm building were in Boche hands, but 
the eastern side of the five hundred yards square hedge 
that surrounded the grounds ran along our front line. 
North of the grounds our line was echeloned forward and 
then ran due north to the corner of Hebuterne. Skeletons 
of large trees stood up like tall sentinels over the piles of 
bricks and stones which had once made up the farm 
buildings. At the farthest corner of the hedge was a 
shell-pitted patch of ground in a slight depression marked 
on the map as Basin Wood. This was known to be 
honeycombed with deep dug-outs and galleries and was 
therefore a frequent target for our heavy howitzers. 
Further south the two opposing lines were almost parallel 
as far as the vicinity of Watling Street — then a Boche 
trench. In the dead ground behind our line was Euston 
Dump, which had gone up with a tremendous roar in 
the early days of the March fighting, leaving a large hole. 
Stoke's mortar shells, "footballs," etc., were scattered about 
in all directions. Not far away from here was the Sugar 
Factory, which, from the attention it received, the Hun 
regarded as more important than we did. 

The CO. maintained his policy of worrying the Hun 
in every possible manner, the fullest use being made of 
the artillery liaison officers and the Stokes and Newton 
trench mortars for this purpose. Every night little strafes 
were planned which must have kept Fritz in a; constant 
state of speculation as to what might happen next. To 
assist in these annoying tactics a special company of R.E., 
whose particular devilry was gas, came up and dug in 
1,000 gas projectiles behind the support lines. On two 
separate nights, after everything had been considered 
favourable, they gleefully let them off at La Signy Farm 



WORRYING THE HUN. 105 

and its environs, and then disappeared down their dug- 
outs to gloat over the picture of choking and writhing 
Huns. We consoled ourselves with the probability that 
the enemy had sustained more casualties than we had. 

On July 8th Corps had a sudden recurrence of 
" attackitis," and, doubtless at the instigation of a junior 
intelligence officer, they sent out a frantic request to 
"all whom it may concern" to ascertain who the enemy 
were in front. They had feared a relief by large German 
soldiers who were anxious to smell the blood of the 
Hated English. This message, or an adulterated form of 
it, filtered " through the usual channels " and so reached 
the 7th in the late afternoon. Two hours before darkness 
it had been answered in the following manner. 

Reconnaissance had indicated an enemy post within 
eighty yards of our line close to where the Serre road 
crossed it, but it was protected by concertina barbed wire. 
" D " company were holding that part of the line, and 
they were asked to furnish a party prepared to go over 
almost at once for a Hun. An enterprising artillery 
liaison officer, Lt. Bates, obtained ipermission to make use of 
a couple of 4-5 howitzers which he said were new and (very 
accurate, and these, firing graze fuse shells at his cor- 
rection would smash the wire. The only place from which 
observation on this wire could be obtained was in our 
front line directly opposite to it, and here a temporary 
O.P. with telephonic communication to the battery was 
rigged up, the garrison of this part being) moved off left 
and right for safety. It was a nerve-racking experience 
in that O.P., as may be gathered from the fact that we 
were trying to hit an object less than 70 yards away I 
It took over an hour to get a satisfactory result, and then 
2nd-Lt. Gorst, Sgt. Horsfield and seven other men, in 
shirt sleeves and armed with revolvers, hopped quickly 
over, ran along a shallow trench or ditch, and entered 
the Hun post. It was empty with the exception of one dead 
man who had just been killed by one of our shells. He 
was quickly carted back, but with great difficulty for he 
was a big heavy fellow, while Gorst and Horsfield searched 
along the trench both ways for more Huns. None were 



106 WORRYING THE HUN. 

to be found, however — evidently our inexplicable shelling 
had scared them off altogether. Still the dead man was 
good enough for the purpose, for he furnished the re- 
quired identification, and his regiment was immediately 
wired to H.Q. There had been no relief, so calm reigned 
once more. 

The spirit of " Go one better " inspired Lieut. Wilkinson 
and a few of his transport men to perform deeds of 
" derring do " in the line, for one night they came up 
and captured a German G.S. wagon from No Man's 
Land. It lay just in front of our line near the Serre 
Road and had evidently been abandoned during the New 
Zealand counter attack in March. A bridge of duck 
boards was put over the trench and Wilkinson and his 
men went out and skilfully dragged their prize back to 
safety. Its arrival at the transport lines next morning 
was naturally the occasion for great rejoicing and hero- 
worship, after the sensation caused by dressing up the 
driver in a Boche tin hat and great coat. On another 
night Sgt. Aldred with a small party made an excep- 
tionally plucky effort to enter an enemy post and was 
afterwards awarded the M.M. After eight days of such 
work as this in the front line we moved out to Bus in 
divisional reserve to enjoy a most pleasant few days under 
canvas. 

We lost Padre Hoskyns at this period. He had received 
an order which filled him with chagrin to report for duty 
as Senior Chaplin to the 6th division, so he journeyed at 
once to the divisional H.Q. and told the major-general 
he would sit on his doorstep until he got permission from 
him to stay with the battalion. Efforts were made but 
they were of no avail, and a more peremptory order than 
the last was received, so he took a sorrowful farewell 
and departed, followed by the regrets of the whole bat- 
talion, and indeed of a good number of the division. " Some 
have greatness thrust upon them," was applicable in his 
case, for he had not sought promotion but preferred to 
remain a " parish priest " and live amongst the men. 
Much the same remark applied to the CO. who, in the 
absence of General Henley at Divisional Headquarters, 



LA SIGNY FARM. 107 

was called upon to take command of the brigade 
during the succeeding weeks, for he always expressed 
his preference for battalion work. Owing to the fact 
that Major Rae was in hospital at this time with 
the " flue," Capt. Creagh assumed command of the bat- 
talion, and Lt. Barratt being on a month's leave in 
England, Lt. Wilson was temporarily appointed Adjutant. 
Capt. Palmer, an old officer of the 7th, who had been 
carrying out important work in England since his recovery 
from a wound obtained in Gallipoli on June 4th, returned 
to us some weeks previous to this and was put in com- 
mand of " C " company. 

During our period in reserve the 126th brigade had 
continued our worrying tactics and had attempted to raid 
La Signy Farm. They found the place strongly held, 
however, and after repeated efforts to get to the Hun 
positions had been forced to abandon the attempt. When 
we took over the front line from the 10th Manchesters for 
a continuous spell of sixteen days, we found that we were 
expected to co-operate at once in a forward movement with 
the New Zealanders, who were in the Hebuterne sector, and 
who intended to occupy a shorter line across the valley. 
The first day, July 19th, found us making preparations 
for this operation at express speed ready for evening. 
Lieut. Edge, an old second line officer, was put in charge 
of a party supplied by " C " company, and they were 
expected to capture and hold a Boche post about 500 yards 
away. It was decided that the silent method would be 
the best, so artillery support was declined. Edge dis- 
played consummate skill and patience in carrying out 
this hazardous enterprise, and his difficulties were not 
lessened by disturbing events on both flanks. All along 
the New Zealand front, from Hebuterne to Rossignol 
Wood, an advance was taking place, while immediately 
on the left the 6th were moving forward and in the process 
had met with considerable resistance so that a pitched 
battle had arisen. To add to the troubles the Naval 
Division on our right had selected this night for a raid 
near Beaumont Hamel, accompanied with noise, with the 
result that the Hun put down his protective barrage all 



108 LA SIGNY FARM. 

along our ridge. Our front line was packed with, men 
who were to go over and dig a communication trench and 
generally assist in the consolidation when the post had 
been captured, and how they escaped casualties from this 
shelling was nothing short of a miracle. Meanwhile, 
Edge and his men were creeping steadily forward,, and 
were encountering difficulties amongst huge shell holes, 
loose tags of wire and a very irregular hedge which they 
were trying to follow as a guide. Eventually they reached 
the post and took the enemy completely by surprise. A 
short rush carried them in and one Boche was captured, 
but the rest got away in the darkness, leaving their gear 
behind them. The consolidating party followed up 
quickly, and covered by a protective screen who lay out 
well in front in the vicinity of Red Cottage, they dug 
L.G. positions, fire steps for riflemen and placed coils of 
wire out in front and on the flanks. A good deal of the 
C.T. was also dug — quite sufficient at any rate to enable 
a careful man to crawl down to the new post in daylight. 
It was a good night's work, and earned a well-deserved 
M.C. for Lieut. Edge and M.M's. for Sgt. Banahan and 
three others. 

Next day, brigade considered the necessity for careful 
consolidation of the ground gained by the 6th and 7th, 
but Capt. Creagh intimated that he wished to ( make his 
position more secure by capturing the Triangle, a strong 
triangular redoubt which lay in the grounds of La Signy 
Farm, and which dominated the post we had just taken. 
Permission was granted to carry out this enterprise, and 
once more preparations were rushed forward and orders 
made out for the operation to be accomplished that night. 
This time " D " company, temporarily commanded by 
Lt. Douglas, was selected to provide the attackers. They 
were back in reserve, close to Batt. H.Q., and on suitable 
ground for carrying out a quick rehearsal. Also it was 
decided that the best method of clearing the Boche would 
be by bombing. The battalion bombing officer was Lieut. 
Gresty, who belonged to " D " company, and he was put 
in command of the attacking party, 2nd-Lt. Gorst, at his 
own request, being detailed to assist him. 



LA SIGNY FARM. 109 

The post captured the previous night was the " jumping 
off " place, and the plan was to work along the enemy 
trench to the right, clear it by bombing, and so get to the 
Triangle. The whole operation was a huge success, and 
never did the eager fighting qualities of the Fleur de Lys 
show up to prouder advantage than in the display given 
by " D " company that night. The unexpected direction 
of approach took the enemy completely by surprise, for 
our men had not proceeded far before they caught a 
working party out in the open. There was a short scrap, 
but most of the poor Jerries had no weapons handy, and 
they ran off squealing and chattering like a lot of 
monkeys, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Our 
men pushed on quickly, anxious to make the fullest 
possible use of the surprise element, until the northern 
corner of the Triangle was reached. Here they split 
up into two parties, Gresty continuing the original direc- 
tion, and Gorst turning along to the right. The latter 
party found the trench strongly occupied, but the enemy 
were so oblivious of what was happening that they were 
busy " dishing out stew" for the evening meal. When they 
were surprised a few of them indeed showed plucky fight, 
hurriedly seizing bombs and throwing them wildly in the 
direction of the attackers. Others succeeded in grasping 
their rifles, and Gorst received a nasty bullet wound in 
the shoulder, but not before he had accounted for one or 
two Huns with his revolver. Sgt. Horsfield, who understood 
perfectly the meaning of "Carry on, Sergeant!" con- 
tinued this part of the show, and the Huns were chased 
along the trench to the western apex. Here a pitched 
bombing battle ensued, and very soon the enemy got out 
and raced across the open in the direction of the farm. 
Meanwhile, Gresty had led his men over a sort of switch 
back trench, for it had been so heavily pounded by our 
Newton T.M's. that it was difficult to make it out at 
all in the dark. Nevertheless they struggled along, and 
finding the far corner of the Triangle occupied, quickly 
bombed the enemy out of it and proceeded to consolidate. 
At the same time other parties, each of one N.C.O. and 



no LA SIGNY FARM. 

six men, had been detailed in the work of manning 
various posts en route, digging L.G. emplacements, and 
wiring and constructing of communication trenches. In 
fact, in a very short time the whole place, which had been 
a Hun strong point, was swarming with British soldiers 
busily working to turn round the defences. 

Just as dawn was breaking a few Huns effected an 
entrance into one of the trenches and commenced to 
bomb the post at the far corner, whereupon the late 
Lce.-Cpl. Lockett of " C " company, who was in charge 
of the post at the apex, took a couple of men and 
promptly counter attacked them. Their leader, an N.C.O. 
with the Iron Cross and another man were captured, 
while the rest made off again. Lce.-Cpl. Lockett was 
awarded the D.C.M. for his sensible and courageous 
action. A good many casualties must have been inflicted 
on the enemy during this night's work for they left a 
number of dead and wounded behind, whilst several 
others suffering from slighter wounds must have got away. 
They left booty in our hands, and the large number of 
rifles and machine guns alone indicated the strength of the 
garrison. Our men obtained plenty of souvenirs, but they 
were sensible enough to hand over anything of military 
value, which was returned to them after examination by 
competent authorities. Useful disposition maps, and in- 
telligence reports, to say nothing of piles of letters and 
post-cards were thus sent up for inspection, while during 
the next few days when visiting the area occupied by 
" D " company one was greeted by the unwonted scent 
of cigar smoke, for the Hun was ever a connoisseur on 
cheap cigars. 

Heavy rain during the following days converting 
our new trenches into a quagmire, the necessity for 
digging and cleaning up became all the more urgent, 
although it entailed a heavy strain upon the men under 
most uncomfortable conditions. As " B," " C " and " D " 
companies had each " had a stunt " and covered them- 
selves with glory, it now remained for "A" company to 
do likewise. Their turn came on the night of July 27th, 
when it was decided to push forward and occupy Cetorix 



LA SIGNY FARM. in 

Trench, about 300 yards beyond the Triangle, and so 
make our position even more secure. Unfortunately 
there was very heavy rain in the early evening, but the 
party went out, and after a serious dispute with the enemy, 
in which 2nd-Lt. Goodier, M.C., was wounded again, 
gained their objective. What was supposed to be a 
trench, however, was found to be a sunken road, fright- 
fully shell-pitted, and in a most appalling condition of 
mud and water. It was not considered worth holding and 
the whole party was wisely withdrawn. 

The La Signy Farm fighting was not yet over, for on 
the morning of August 3rd, while " B " company were in 
the front line, the enemy put down a heavy barrage 1 on 
all our positions, particularly on the Triangle. Then, 
just as dawn broke, a party of about forty Huns rapidly 
started across No Man's Land, but the 7th were too much 
for them. They stuck to their posts and rapidly emptied 
Lewis guns and rifles amongst them, and when they were 
sufficiently close greeted them also with bombs. The 
Boche became disorganised and scattered, some groping 
about for gaps in our hastily constructed wire, but it 
was a hopeless business and the remaining plucky ones 
cleared off in disgust. Then Lt. Pell-Ilderton followed 
out with a small party, and finding a couple of dead 
brought them in. The Huns had carefully removed all 
evidences of identification before the venture, but one 
man had a black and white cockade in his cap, which 
proved him to be a Prussian. As the previous 1 division 
was known to be Wurtemburger, we immediately notified 
this fact to H.Q. Further proof was afforded by a slightly 
wounded Boche who, having apparently got lost, had 
wandered into a post occupied by the 6th. 

That day we were relieved by the L.F's. and went back 
into divisional reserve, this time to billets in Louvencourt, 
and there received congratulations from various people 
for our excellent work during the last long spell in the 
line. The final incident furnished Col. Manger with an 
extra battalion motto: "What we have, we hold."' For 
the attack on the Triangle, Military Crosses were awarded 
to Lieut. Gresty and 2nd-Lt. Gorst, while Sgt. Horsfield, 



U2 LA SIGNY FARM. 

who had already earned the D.C.M. and Belgian Croix de 
Guerre when with the 9th Manchesters, received a Mili- 
tary Medal. Five other ranks were similarly decorated. 

The battalion was augmented about this time by the 
arrival of the cadre of the 2nd 7th Manchesters. The 66th 
division had suffered severely in March and as it was 
undergoing re-organisation, all the second line units, or 
what remained of them, were sent to the 42nd division. 
Capt. Nelson also returned after a long absence since 
his wound in May, 191 5, and was given command of 
" A " company, Capt. Allen, M.C., having been detailed 
to take charge of a divisional L.G. school. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Hammering the Hun. 

SERRE RIDGE AND WARLENCOURT. 

A FTER a fortnight at Louvencourt the brigade went 
L\ into the line again on August 18th, this time on 
JL JL the right of the divisional front. During our 
period in reserve important events had taken place south 
of the Somme. A lightning stroke, chiefly delivered by 
the Canadian Corps who had been suddenly and secretly 
rushed down from the Lens area, had altered the whole 
aspect of the war, for the German Army, which not long 
before had entertained such high hopes of reaching the 
coast and Paris, was driven to anxiously defending his 
line. Weak spots in the Hun armour were being sought 
out and pierced so that on the whole the enemy was 
having a bad time. Anticipating trouble on the third 
army front he had withdrawn his outposts to a safer line 
all along the Ancre and up to Puisieux, and our men 
had been able to walk cautiously forward several hundred 
yards. 

Such was the situation when the 7th took over the front 
line, at the moment quite unsuspicious of the stirring events 
in which they were shortly to take a share. Major Rae 
commanded the battalion, the C.O. being away on Paris 
leave, while Capt. Barratt had resumed the duties of 
Adjutant. The Company Commanders for this tour of 
duty were Lt. C. B. Douglas, " A," Capt. Grey Burn, 
" B," Lt. Abbott, " C " and Capt. J. Baker, " D." Sud- 
denly, without previous warning, operation orders were 
received on August 20th for a big attack to commence 
along the whole army front the following morning. This 



U4 SERRE RIDGE. 

was rapid work indeed, and the hurried state of prepara- 
tion can be better imagined than described, especially 
in view of the extraordinary nature of the barrage which 
called for most accurate timing and an elaborate barrage 
table. The manner in which Major Rae and Capt. Barratt 
swiftly dealt with all these details and communicated their 
wishes to the people concerned, a task of no small magni- 
tude under more favourable conditions, calls for the 
keenest appreciation from all who took part in that first 
important battle. 

The division expected to cover, in the first day's 
fighting, the large mass of high ground which is flanked 
on its western edge by Serre and overlooks Miraumont 
on the eastern side. A Prussian division was known to be 
defending this part of the line. The 7th were to take part 
in the initial assault in the right brigade sector, while the 
125th brigade were on the left. A thick mist enshrouded 
the land in the early morning of August 21st, and doubt- 
less many men on both sides thought of the similar 
conditions which prevailed on the 21st of another month 
when the Hun attacked with such terrible results. Here 
was the revenge and it was to take place, curiously 
enough, under like circumstances. At 4.50 a.m. the attack 
commenced, preceded by a short but destructive barrage 
over the enmy position. For the Fleur de Lys " C" and 
" D " companies led off, their objective being a part of 
the sunk road running across the front from Puisieux: to 
Beaumont Hamel. It was impossible to see more than 
forty yards, and this rendered control by the officers 
practically out of the question. The section commanders, 
however, in many cases Lance-Corporals and even privates, 
rose magnificently to the occasion, with the result that 
touch was maintained and the direction of advance pre- 
served. Short, sharp struggles took place at various 
points, but the Boche were overpowered, and eventually 
a good line was established on the objective. " C " 
company lost 2nd-Lt. Harland, M.C., and Lt. Lofthouse, 
both wounded, while " D " company, although keeping 
their officers, had Sgt. W. Brown killed. 



SERRE RIDGE. 115 

The next phase of the battle comprised the attack of 
"A" and "B" companies who passed through the first 
objectives and advanced to the top of the ridge. Lieut. 
H. N. Kay of " B " company was shot dead at close 
range during the clearing of a dug-out in the early stages 
of this fight, while later on this company suffered heavy 
casualties, Sgt. Green, D.C.M., M.M., being killed and 
Sgts. Guttery and Gleeson wounded. On reaching the 
final objective Lt. Douglas carried out work of the 
greatest value in the organisation of his company. In 
spite of the strongly increasing enemy shell-fire he moved 
about amongst his men with such coolness and disregard 
for personal danger that his example inspired the men 
for the strong counter attacks which later took place. 
For his splendid leadership and initiative he was after- 
wards awarded the Military Cross. Capt. Grey Burn 
and his company on the right were having an awkward 
time from enemy snipers, but he organised his now small 
numbers very carefully, and personally kept the enemy 
under close observation. Seeing an enemy concentration 
in progress, evidently for a counter-attack, he quickly 
gave information, and the gunners were able to disperse 
the enemy with a very effective barrage. 

The conduct of all ranks during the counter-attack, 
which was launched early in the afternoon, was so 
splendid that it broke up the Hun effort. Later in the day 
the enemy made another attack with a strong body of 
picked storm-troops from another division brought up 
specially from the reserves, but the greeting they received 
from our rifle, Lewis gun, and machine-gun fire caused 
enormous casualties, and the attack collapsed. Capt. 
Grey Burn was decorated with the M.C. for his share 
in this splendid day's work. The ground captured in the 
first day's fighting, representing an advance of 5,000 
yards, was consolidated and held for the next two days, 
during which time the left of the division was executing 
a turning movement to encircle Miraumont from the north. 
The work of the signallers, under Lt. Smith, cannot be too 
highly praised for their contribution to the success of 
this battle, because communications throughout the opera- 



n6 WARLENCOURT. 

tion were excellent and twice served to bring down a 
barrage in short time, so assisting the infantry to smash 
the enemy attacks. The stretcher bearers nobly per- 
formed their work under most trying conditions, what with 
the heavy mist followed later by intense heat, the badly 
broken ground and the long distances they had to carry 
the wounded under shell fire. Lce-Cpl. Twist, M.M., of 
" D " company, performed prodigies of strength and 
valour in this way, receiving a bar to his M.M., and Pte. 
Greer, M.M., of " B " company, proved an able second 
to him. Lt. Stanier was badly wounded whilst with "A" 
company, losing the sight of one eye. 

The next movement was the crossing of the River Ancre 
in the early hours of August 23rd. This was well done by 
" B " company, "A " company, now under the command of 
Capt. Nelson, being in support with " C " company. 
During the advance, and with the co-operation of the East 
Lanes, north of Miraumont, large bodies of prisoners were 
cut off and rounded up on the far side of the Ancre. 
When the ground had been made good and it was 
ascertained that the Hun had definitely retired, it was 
thought that the day's work was done. This, however, 
proved to be wrong, as a further advance to Warlencourt 
was ordered, and it was to commence as soon as possible. 
The 6th moved off about dusk with the 7th in support, 
and although the right flank was exposed this' did not 
hinder the advance. The greater part of the movement 
was carried out in darkness and over strange ground, 
but the leadership was very skilful and the brigade came 
in contact with the enemy on the outskirts of Warlen- 
court about 10.30 p.m. Boche M.G. nests quickly opened 
a terrific fire, but few casualties were caused. A rapid 
deployment took place and positions quickly occupied in 
case of a surprise. The enemy fire, however, increased 
in intensity, and the cover afforded being of the scantiest, 
it was decided to withdraw a short distance to a line of 
trenches and there await daylight. Fortunately no serious 
losses had been incurred, and when dawn broke it was 
found that the enemy had retired still further during the 
night. 



WARLENCOURT. 117 

At this point the division was pinched out of the line 
by the Naval Division on the right and the N.Z. Division 
on the left converging across our front in the next day's 
advance, and we were enabled to take advantage of a 
short respite from the struggle. The vigour and effec- 
tiveness of the 42nd division's attack has been since 
proved by an unexpected tribute from the enemy. The 
following extract from Ludendorf's " Memoirs of the 
War, 1914-1918," Vol. II., page 692, refers to the fighting 
at this time: — 

" On August 2 1 st the English attacked south of Arras 
between Boisleux and the Ancre ... As the offensive 
developed, the enemy succeeded on the north in pushing 
us back from the Ancre. At this point a Prussian! 
division . . . given a sector covered by the river, had 
failed badly. This threw the whole line into confusion 
. . . The situation there became extremely critical about 
August 25th." 

The 7th marched back a short distance to Irles, and 
made themselves comfortable in the German dug-outs 
there for a day and a half. Looking back over those 
days of new experiences for the battalion one realises the 
valuable work accomplished by Lt. Wilkinson and his 
transport section. When out of the line he invariably 
carried off the honours in the " spit and polish " trans- 
port competitions frequently held in the division, but it 
was on difficult occasions such as these that he showed 
up to prouder advantage. The transport lines had been 
brought up to Colincamps, and the distance from there to 
Warlencourt was about twelve miles. The roads were 
in an impossible condition so that all supplies had to 
be carried on pack animals, and the fact that nothing 
failed reflects the greatest credit upon the administrative 
arrangements of Capt. and Q.M. Wood and the transport 
officer. 

VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 

During our few hours' absence from the line the Naval 
Division had been in some heavy fighting as we saw when 
we arrived on the night of August 27th in the support 



u8 VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 

position near Loupart Wood. Skilfully sited machine guns 
had taken terrible toll of the brave naval men, and their 
bodies still lay where they had fallen, so that one of 
our first jobs was to bury them. The front line ran along 
the western outskirts of Ligny-Thilloy, but it was sus- 
pected that the enemy would not make a vigorous stand 
here. His shelling was particularly beastly, however, and 
if he did intend to retire further he was at least taking 
the necessary artillery precautions. By August 30th 
preparations were complete for another forward move, 
but early morning showed us that the Hun had gone, so 
we were merely required to follow him up. 

The pre-arranged plan was carried out, and after 1 the 
127th brigade had made good the high ground east of 
Thilloy, in face of some opposition, the East Lanes, came 
through and took up the advance on what had now become 
a one brigade front. They had not gone far before they 
encountered the enemy in strength holding Riencourt, 
and they promptly attacked it. The 8th Manchesters 
bore the brunt of this attack and they suffered very 
heavily, little ground being gained. A brilliant night 
show by the 10th the next night, however, subdued Rien- 
court, and this rendered the line sufficiently straight to 
be able to continue the advance. The 127th brigade 
took over the front again and rapid preparations were 
made to co-operate in an attack which was to take place 
along the whole army front. It was now clear that our 
higher command were not disposed to allow the enemy to 
settle anywhere, if possible. It promised to be ding- 
dong work amidst ever-changing scenes, with the guns 
making the most of their opportunities and struggling 
over the torn ground behind the infantry as best they 
might. But the supply services experienced the biggest 
demand upon their wits and resources, uprooted from 
their comfortable and secure villages and cast out upon 
the shelterless land of the devastated area just like the 
infantry. Their work was wonderful, however, and very 
rarely had Tommy occasion to grouse about either the 
quality or the quantity of the food that was served up to 
him under these trying conditions. It was common 



VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 119 

knowledge that when the Boche had come over in March, 
he had not been so well treated, and had been forced in 
the urgency of his plight to eat horses and mules killed 
in the fighting. 

It was evident that we had now got the full measure of 
our foes, and were in the comfortable position of being 
able to give battle when and where we pleased, and be 
practically confident of success. The front was becoming 
shorter also, with the result that a divisional sector was 
considerably smaller than formerly, and this entailed 
of course longer periods out of the line for the soldier. 
Leave also continued to flow, and proved an important 
factor in keeping up the morale of the troops. How 
different from the old days, when we used to advertise 
our intentions to the Hun when a stunt was impending 
by stopping leave in the army concerned! Capt. Grey 
Burn, M.C., went to England for a month on August 31st, 
and Lt. S. J. Wilson was put in command of " B " com- 
pany for the coming operations, while in the continued 
absence of Capt. Palmer, Lt. Hammond was in charge of 
" C " company. Lt. Smithies, recently joined from the 
second line, took over the duties of intelligence officer. 
Col. Manger was required to temporarily command the 
126th brigade, and this left Major Rae in command of 
the battalion once more. 

The next village in our line of advance, now practically 
due east, was Villers-au-Flos, and this, with the high 
ground beyond it, was to be taken in the first stride of 
the coming battle, a matter of 2,500 yards. After this 
the L.F's. would leap-frog through and exploit success 
as far as possible. This time the 5th and 6th were detailed 
to execute the first shock of the assault with the 7th in 
close support. As a matter of fact "C" company were 
sent forward to act under the orders of the 5th in view 
of the extra opposition which was expected on the right 
sector. On the night of September 1st the remainder of 
the battalion, in order " B," "A," " D," companies moved 
up close to Riencourt, to occupy old, shallow trenches, 
and await the needs of the brigade either during or after 
the assault. 



120 VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 

Soon after dawn the barrage opened, and simultaneously 
the Manchesters advanced accompanied by a single tank. 
The New Zealanders were carrying out a similar task on the 
left, while the 17th division had to get through Beaulen- 
court and over a large stretch of bare country on the 
right. The 6th Manchesters progressed in fine style, and 
everything went according to plan. The enemy put up a 
stiff fight for it and hung on to the last in the cunningly 
concealed machine gun posts. It was in this part of the 
fighting that Lieut. Welch (a one-time 7th officer) with a 
section of Stokes' mortar men performed a gallant deed 
that earned for him the D.S.O. The progress of events 
on the right, however, was not so clear and straight- 
forward. As was expected the 5th encountered strong 
opposition, for they advanced along a double row of old 
German trenches which contained a large number of 
dug-outs, and disconcerting masses of wire at irregular 
intervals. It was thus difficult to maintain cohesion in 
the attack, while every dug-out contained machine "gun 
crews who had been unharmed by the barrage, and who, 
owing to the delay in getting ahead, had been able to 
come out and man their positions without interruption. The 
5th, therefore, lost heavily, particularly on their right flank, 
and before very long " C " company of the 7th found 
themselves in the front, almost isolated, and taking a 
stern part in the assault. 

They pushed on until all the enemy trenches had been 
cleared to the south-east corner of Villers-au-Flos, and 
then stayed in order to get in touch with the remnants of 
the 5th on their left, after which Lieut. Hammond re- 
ported progress. In view of the danger from this flank, 
for we were already well ahead of the troops on our 
right, " B " company was ordered forward to protect the 
southern and eastern sides of Riencourt, and so prevent 
any Hun attempt to get in behind our forward line. Later 
it was found that the 5th positions required more strength, 
and " A " company were sent up for that purpose, while 
Capt. Baker was ordered to take his company to form a 
defensive flank behind the 6th, for the New Zealanders 



VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 121 

were still echeloned to the rear. Evening of September 
2nd thus found the 6th at the tip of a sharp salient, and 
the enemy still very active in front, with his shelling 
steadily increasing in intensity. " B " company were thus 
ordered to continue the advance on the right and attain 
the final objective, slow and complicated work for it all took 
place in the dark. First the 1,500 yards from Riencourt 
to " C" company had to be traversed, and from there it 
was another 1,000 yards to the required position; 
meanwhile the enemy was continually shelling with 5-c/s 
at important points and with whizz-bangs promiscuously. 
Nothing was known of the enemy in front, and the situa- 
tion on the right was equally obscure. Patrols worked 
cautiously ahead however and fortunately no opposition 
was encountered, so that the final objective was made 
before dawn. 

As daylight broke on the 3rd Sept. it was found 
that the next village, Barastre, had been rapidly evacuated 
by the enemy who had left a quantity of material behind 
him. Although the men were dog-tired " B " company 
sent out a large fighting patrol to try to get in touch with 
him, but they traversed well beyond Bus, the next village, 
and returned according to orders without seeing him. 
Meanwhile a squadron of cavalry (Scots Greys) had been 
ordered up, and they preceded the advance of the 125th 
brigade who by this time were marching through in 
accordance with previous plans. They encountered Hun 
rearguards near Ytres, but the attack was resumed 
at once, and in the course of the next two days the enemy 
was pressed back into the Hindenburg system in the 
vicinity of Havrincourt. 

The Manchesters had now the opportunity of seeing 
how great an organisation must follow in the wake of 
advancing infantry. First came the field guns, drawn 
by teams of mules, followed by the 6-in. howitzers, bounc- 
ing along in jolly fashion over the uneven roads behind 
motor lorries containing their ammunition. Then the 
observation balloons appeared, still observing, at a height 
of about 100 feet, being pulled steadily by motor convey- 
ances. Intermingled amongst these were staff cars, am- 



122 VILLERS-AU-FLOS. 

bulances, motor lorries for all purposes, infantry trans- 
port, D.A.C. waggons and various other impedimenta of a 
moving army. Most of these people took up their abode 
around Barastre, occupying old British huts, or erecting 
tents and bivouac sheets, so that ground which twelve hours 
previously had been Hun land, gingerly approached by us, 
had become a huge camp seething with an active soldier 
population of Britishers. 

On September 6th the division came out for a long- 
delayed rest, and marched back to Warlencourt in Corps 
reserve. A few tents were provided, but only a small 
portion of the battalion could be accommodated in them, 
so it was necessary to dig in once more. There was quite 
a quantity of material about, however, and it did not 
take us long to make ourselves weather-proof and more 
or less comfortable. Fortunately, the Huns had not had 
time to destroy the two wells in the village, although the 
explosive charges had been laid, so that water did not 
prove the difficulty it might otherwise have done. A 
special order of the day from the brigadier admirably 
epitomised our feelings of satisfaction with our work in the 
war up to this date, so it would be as well to quote it at 
length : — 

Manchesters, 

You have added a new anniversary to those which your 
gallantry has already made famous. On 4th June, 191 5, in 
Gallipoli, you forced your way like a spearhead into and 
through line upon line of Turkish trenches. On 25th March, 
1918, at Achiet and Bucquoy, you stemmed and stopped the 
onrush of the tide of Huns that was to have found its way to 
the Coast. 

Yesterday, after three months of unbroken fighting in 
trenches and in the open, and in face of stubborn resistance 
by Huns more than equal in numbers, you stormed and took 
Villers-au-Flos with the utmost dash and determination; a feat 
which would have been notable if performed by battalions at 
full strength and fresh from a period of rest. 

When Manchester hears of this new proof of your prowess, 
she may well be as proud of her sons as I am of commanding 
such soldiers. 

Anthony Henley, Brig.-Gen., 

Commanding 127th Inf. Brigade. 
3rd September, iqi8. 



THE HINDENBURG LINE. 123 

The fortnight at Warlencourt was spent in refitting, and 
intensive training in attack. One day was occupied by a 
demonstration of an assault by a company, using live 
ammunition. This was carried out by " D " company in 
the presence of the corps commander and large numbers 
of officers and N.C.O's. of the division, and was followed 
by educational criticism by the General. 

THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

It was obvious that all this had a specific purpose, and 
we were not left long to wonder what the purpose was. 
A tremendous battle was brewing, and rumours placed 
its magnitude at from three army fronts to the whole 
allied front. Anyhow, the chief thing that concerned us 
was that the 42nd was to take part in the cracking of the 
hardest nut in the German defence, namely, the Hinden- 
burg system. The enemy had had three weeks in which 
to consolidate his already perfected ramification of 
trenches and dug-outs, and there was no doubt as to 
their determination to definitely stop the British advance 
there. If this failed they had lost the War. 

On September 22nd the division marched up, and took 
over the front from the 37th division, the 125th brigade 
occupying the forward positions just east of Havrincourt 
Wood. The 7th found themselves out in reserve just north 
of the Canal du Nord behind Hermies, and it was pleas- 
ing to see the old haunts again. Men thought grimly of the 
experiences we had been through since those happy days 
more than a year ago, and these sights served to call up 
the memory of many a pal who had since made the big 
sacrifice. And now, perhaps, we should get an oppor- 
tunity of seeing those mysterious lands beyond Fles- 
quieres, Marcoing and so on, that we had gazed upon so 
long. As far as possible training was continued and a 
certain amount of company re-organisation took place. 
Owing to the weakness of companies they had been 
reduced to three platoons, some of these being much below 
strength. Reinforcements had been expected, but they did 
not materialise to an appreciable extent. Llowever, the 



124 THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

exigencies of the task in "hand demanded that the four 
platoon formation should be adopted in spite of the small 
numbers. In view of this, therefore, it was necessary to 
crowd in rapid training in attack on this principle, so that 
each man should be well acquainted with his function. 
After the battle surplus had been eliminated the company 
commanders were as follows: — "A" company, Capt. Nel- 
son, " B" Lt. S. J. Wilson, "C" Capt. Allen, M.C., and 
" D " Lieut. Gresty, M.C. Lt.-Col. Manger commanded 
the battalion, while Capt. Creagh had returned and was 
Adjutant. Two days before the attack Capt. Nelson went 
into hospital with dysentery which had frequently recurred 
in a violent form during the preceding weeks. A slight 
re-adjustment was thus demanded amongst the officers to 
give every company a fair share of leadership and Lieut. 
Hammond was sent to command " A " company. 

Briefly the plan of attack was as follows. The divisional 
frontage was covered by the 125th brigade on the right 
and the 127th brigade on the left, with the remaining 
brigade in support. As far as the 127th brigade was 
concerned, the attack was to be accomplished in five 
bounds. The first objective, along the whole of the 
brigade front, was the work of the 5th Manchesters, and 
consisted in capturing the German front line which ran 
chiefly along Chapel Wood Switch. The next four objec- 
tives, called for convenience the Red, Brown, Yellow and 
Blue Lines, were to engage the attention of the 7th on 
the right and the 6th on the left of the brigade front, and 
were to be taken by the leap-frog method by companies. 
Thus, in the 7th, "C" company's objective was the Red 
Line, "A" the Brown, "D" the Yellow, and "B" the 
Blue Line. These lines were by no means parallel to 
one another, their shape being largely controlled by the 
configuration of the ground and the German trenches. 
It is also important to note that the Hindenburg system 
was being taken in enfilade on this part of the front. 
Two or three great parallel trenches ran along in the 
direction of the advance, and they were full of deep dug- 
outs capable of holding thousands of men. Our main 
security lay in the fact that a simultaneous attack was 



126 THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

taking place along a widely extended front, and the 
enemy would not be able to fill these dug-outs with 
counter-attacking troops drawn from other fronts. 

Space does not allow of a detailed description of the 
orders for attack, but it can easily be imagined 
that they were pretty considerable in view of the 
heavy work to be accomplished by the artillery. As this 
portion of the German line was known to be powerfully 
defended by large numbers of troops, extensive trench 
systems, dug-outs and wire, it was part of the strategy 
of Foch to concentrate artillery here, and records showed 
that on the two days September 27th and 28th shells 
were consumed at an unprecedented rate. In our sector 
alone, the programme comprised the capturing of 3,500 
yards in depth of the most strongly defended ground in 
France, including the vicinities of the famous Highland and 
Welsh Ridges of terrible memory in the Battle of Cambrai. 
Every yard of this ground was subjected to a continuous 
creeping shrapnel barrage lasting for almost three hours, 
while moving steadily ahead of this was a terrific bom- 
bardment by all calibres from 4-5 howitzers upwards upon 
the enemy's main trenches and supposed defence points. 
The brigade frontage, measured north to south, was 
1,250 yards, and this was equally divided between the 6th 
and 7th. As we were going over one company behind 
another, each company was responsible for nearly 700 
yards — a very large front considering our depleted 
numbers. There is no doubt, as far as we were concerned, 
the task looked formidably ambitious. 

On the morning of Sept. 26th final operation orders 
were issued, and that night we moved up to our assembly 
positions in a huge dug-out near Femy Wood, capable 
of holding the whole battalion. It was slow work moving 
along the canal and across the Trescault-Havrincourt 
road, and it is not surprising that eventually the intervals 
between platoons closed up and the four companies were 
strung out in one long line. The confidence felt in the 
success of the operations, was evident by the fact that 
the 6-inch howitzers were installed in front of the Trescault 
road within 500 yards of the enemy. Whilst we were 



THE HINDENBURG LINE. 127 

assembling there were motor lorries on the road unloading 
stacks of ammunition for them I By the time the battalion 
had been packed into the dug-out dawn was swiftly 
approaching, which meant the commencement of the 
battle, for Zero for the third army was 5.25 a.m. The 
Vlth corps, the 62nd division of which touched up with our 
left, were to have three hours' fighting before we com- 
menced, and for this reason we welcomed the shelter of 
the dug-out while it was in progress. The configuration 
of the ground was responsible for the manner in which 
the battle was to grow along the whole front. The ad- 
vance of the 127th brigade was to take place along the 
shoulder of a long hill running broadly east to west. 
North of this high ground was a long valley stretching 
through Ribecourt towards Marcoing. Another shoulder 
similar to but higher than ours flanked the valley on 
the north, and it was this, together with the commanding 
village of Flesquieres, that the Vlth corps were to make 
good before our attack commenced. Again, the 125th 
brigade, who were on our right, and also on the higher 
part of the shoulder, were to open the 42nd divisional 
assault half an hour ahead of ourselves. 

About 8 o'clock " C " company led the way out of the 
dug-out and took up their assault positions near the 
front line. At the appointed hour, following behind the 
5th, they moved forward to the attack, in the formation 
which we had practised so frequently, and which was the 
most suitable for the large frontage that had to be 
covered. All four platoons were in line, and each platoon 
was divided into four sections, the two rifle sections on 
the flanks, and the two L.G. sections in the middle and 
echeloned to the rear. This was the artillery formation 
useful for covering the ground previous to the actual 
assault, each section moving in file {i.e., two ranks) well 
opened out. When close to the enemy position the pla- 
toons extended and formed two lines, with a L.G. in 
the centre of each line, and riflemen on the flanks. Every 
Company went over in this formation, and strict orders were 
issued that no man was to enter the enemy trenches for 
the purpose of covering the ground, but to keep out in 



128 THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

the open, otherwise great confusion would arise, and 
officers would lose control of their men. 

Misfortune greeted "C" company from the start. Capt. 
Allen, M.C. and 2nd-Lt. Ray were killed immediately, 
and casualties were soon very heavy. It was evident the 
enemy was making the most of his superior position and 
the clear sweep of ground. The remnants of the company 
pushed on, however, and reached their objective. "A" com- 
pany followed and they also suffered severely from the 
moment they advanced out of Ferny Wood. Then it was 
noticed that most of the machine gun fire was from the right 
flank, and our men were being subjected to a terrible enfil- 
ading fire as they moved across the open. All the officers 
became casualties, Lt. Hammond wounded, 2nd-Lt. Mc- 
Almont wounded, 2nd-Lt. T. Woods wounded, and 2nd-Lt. 
Carley, killed. The few men of the company, now led by 
C.S.M. Joyce, reached the Red Line and joined " C " com- 
pany, which, Lt. Edge, M.C, having been hit, was now 
under the command of 2nd-Lt. Jones. It was impossible, 
with the small number of men, scattered over a wide front, 
to continue the advance for the moment. " D " company, 
moving up according to programme, were treated simi- 
larly to the previous two companies and men began to 
drop long before they anticipated meeting any resistance. 
Thus, before they had gone very far 2nd-Lt. Thrutchley 
and 2nd-Lt. Wright were wounded, which left Lt. Gresty, 
M.C. and 2nd-Lt. Milne to carry on the leadership, a 
task which they performed in fine style. They quickly 
arrived at the Red Line, and then took cover for a short 
period. Soon after this, " B " company came along, but 
on nearing the Red Line, they found many men of " D " 
turned about firing rifles and L.G. towards their right 
rear. It was now obvious that the ground to the right 
of us had not been cleared at all, and the enemy was left 
free to work his will upon us front the higher ground. 
By this time a tank had arrived and materially assisted 
us in dealing with the problem. Gresty then decided to 
push on and his company mounted the rising ground in 
front. From this point they unfortunately swerved to 
the left, probably being influenced by a road which ran 



THE HINDENBURG LINE. 129 

diagonally across the front towards Ribecourt, but nothing 
could stop their irresistible dash. As they crossed this 
road Milne, with a handful of his platoon, added to our 
already considerable number of prisoners, by capturing 
a large crowd of Huns. 

With characteristic impetuosity, reminiscent of the La 
Signy Farm days, Gresty and the men of " D " following 
up under the barrage, rushed across the Brown Line and 
made for the Yellow Line. They were now only a small 
gallant band but they were undaunted. Prisoners cap- 
tured were told to go down to the rear, which they did 
right gladly without an escort, so that the assaulting party 
who now in formation and well-nigh in size, began to 
resemble a Rugby football team, could preserve their 
strength. Two 77 m.m. guns lay in their" path, and at 
their approach the Boche gunners spiked them and made 
off, leaving them an easy prey to the 7th. After this, 
Gresty decided that he was on his objective, as indeed 
he was, but he was more or less in the 6th sector, and 
when he was quickly joined by a company of the 6th he 
began to realise it. There was trouble on his right, how- 
ever, as well as from the front, and the small party of men 
were disposed to defend the ground they had captured, 
a difficult enough task in view of the fact that they had 
to find positions to face in two or three different directions. 
Touch was obtained with the 62nd division in Ribecourt, 
and it was found that the Vlth corps had had great 
success in their part of the battle, so that already the 
advance was proceeding towards Marcoing. 

" B " company's effort was really a separate story. As 
soon as " D " company had disappeared over the crest in 
front of the Red Line they continued the advance. 2nd- 
Lt. Pearson was on the extreme right and he had been 
instructed to keep touch with the L.F's. From the 
beginning, however, he had not seen them, and his platoon 
was moving along " in the air," and naturally meeting 
with strong resistance. They had not expected to meet 
the enemy for another 1,500 yards if events had worked 
out " according to plan," but they were now fighting them 
at every step. Gallant deeds were performed in dealing 



130 THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

with Hun machine guns, and many prisoners were taken, 
but greatest of all were the achievements of Pte. Jack 
White. Single-handed he rushed a machine gun post, 
bayonetted the man on the gun and pursued the remainder 
of the team with fire, inflicting casualties. Later on he 
again rushed forward alone to a strongly held trench, 
but was killed practically on the parapet. His name 
was recommended for a V.C., but unfortunately nothing 
more was heard of it. In view of the heavy casualties, 
Lt. Wilson went across to Pearson and told him to close 
his platoon slightly towards the left, in order to keep a 
cohesion in the company, for it was evident that the Hun 
resistance promised to be strong, and there was no hope 
now of assistance from the right flank. In this manner the 
high ground near the Brown Line was reached, but the 
company was suffering from fire both from the front and the 
right flank. 2nd-Lts. Siddall and Gapp were wounded, as 
well as three platoon sergeants, and there was no know- 
ledge as to what had happened to " D '• , company. At 
this moment the Germans developed a counter-attack 
from the right in a manner to be expected from an in- 
telligent and courageous enemy. The obvious thing for 
them to do was to cut in behind " B " company's right 
flank and attempt to regain a footing in " Unseen Trench" 
which had just been taken from them. From an offensive 
force we were suddenly transformed into a defensive 
force, and the men were still out in the open. Wilson 
drew back his right flank so as to face the Huns, but kept 
his left in touch with the 6th on the road in front of the 
Brown Line, and from this position, the men being dis- 
posed in shell holes, " B " company held up the enemy 
attack and defended the ground won. The Huns were on 
higher ground and when they had been finally driven to 
earth they kept up vigorous sniping at very close range, 
a form of fighting that we returned with interest. Pearson 
was hit in the stomach and later died on the way 'down, 
so that Wilson and C.S.M. Shields were left to control 
the remainder of the company. 

The arrival of 2nd-Lt. Smith with signalling apparatus 
enabled communication to be obtained with battalion 



THE HINDENBURG LINE. 131 

H.Q. Lt. Wilson outlined the situation and was told in 
return that the L.F's. had not yet reached Boar Copse, 
having met with powerful resistance. He was further 
ordered to hang on to his position and wait until the 
L.F's. had drawn up in line. Meanwhile a company of 
the 5th was sent up to strengthen the flank. Continuous 
touch by means of patrols were kept with the enemy, and 
his movements were carefully watched. Within 300 yards 
were a couple of German jj m.m. guns, pluckily worked 
by the gunners at point blank range until our machine 
gunners, who had now arrived, co-operated with L.G's. 
from the 6th and ourselves in putting them out of action. 
They were taken by the 10th in the night. Meanwhile 
Gresty and the company of the 6th on the Yellow Line 
had been ordered to fall back 300 yards to a less isolated 
position, and a sound front and flank was thus estab- 
lished. 

The battle had now reached a stage when the next 
move would be ordered by the brigade ori even by the 
division. Careful observation of the enemy led us to 
suppose that he was weakening and Gresty and Wilson 
intimated that when the L.F's. arrived at the Brown 
Line, having re-organised their companies, they should 
be prepared to continue the advance in the 7th sector. 
Division had decided otherwise, however, and had ordered 
up a battalion of the 126th brigade. Rapid preparations were 
made for a night attack to complete the divisional task, the 
10th Manchesters to cover the 127th brigade front and 
the L.F's. to continue on their right. Before nightfall, 
the enemy having withdrawn from the trenches im- 
mediately in front, " B " company pushed on again and 
established a good line running north and south in| front 
of the Brown Line, and touching up with the L.F's. who 
had now arrived. This considerably simplified the work 
of the 10th, who were able to assemble in the night on 
an even front. 

The night attack was a success. The Huns were evidently 
demoralised and put up no fight at all, surrendering in 
large batches without firing a shot when our men arrived 
at their dug-outs, so that the Blue Line was made good 



132 THE HINDENBURG LINE. 

before dawn. Then came the work of exploiting success, 
and on the 42nd divisional front this was carried out by 
the 8th Manchesters, and the 5th East Lanes., the 126th 
brigade having [taken over the front during the afternoon of 
Sept. 28th. They were able to make good progress over 
Welsh Ridge before encountering serious resistance. 
Later in the day the New Zealand Division marched 
through to follow up the enemy, so that the 42nd could 
go down for a rest. Gladly did the Fleur de Lys pack 
up their traps and march back over the ground that had 
recently seen such stern work. The brigadier had been 
up and personally thanked Lts. Gresty and Wilson for 
the work achieved by " D " and " B " companies, re- 
marking that having seen the ground, and knowing the 
difficulties which had to be encountered, he thought all 
the men were heroes in having accomplished so much. 
Such praise coming from so sound a soldier was naturally 
received with gratitude and pride, and we felt that once 
again the name of the 7th Manchesters had been scored 
honourably and deeply in the records of warfare. The 
battalion reassembled in the big dug-out and there 
realised sadly the abundance of accommodation now 
afforded. 

It had been a glorious fight but won at a terrible cost. 
Out of the 450 or so men who went over there had been 
more than 300 casualties. Of the sixteen officers who 
started out four only remained. 2nd-Lt. Pearson's death 
was particularly sad. He had gone out in the ranks in 
1 914 with the 7th, and had been twice wounded on 
Gallipoli, after which he served continuously with the 
battalion till the winter of 191 7, when he went home for 
a commission. He had returned as an officer only a few 
weeks previously, and in this fight proved himself a 
courageous and skilful leader of men. 

About 600 prisoners had been taken by the battalion, 
as well as the two field guns, large numbers of machine 
guns and other booty. More important was the death- 
blow to the German resistance. The Hindenburg Line 
had been smashed, the enemy was obviously demoralised, 
and they were in full flight for the next piece of ground 



THE HINDENBURG LINE. 133 

which could offer a suitable position for delaying our 
rapid advance. The awards to the 7th for this battle 
included a bar to his Military Cross for Lt. Gresty, and 
Military Crosses for Lt. Wilson, 2nd-Lt. Milne, 2nd-Lt. 
Siddall, and 2nd-Lt. Thrutchley. C.S.M. Mc. Hugh, M.M., 
C.S.M. Tabbron, and Sgt. Mather received the D.C.M., 
while twenty N.C.O's. and men obtained the M.M., Pte. 
Greer being given a bar to his M.M. 

The following Special Order of the Day indicates the 
value of the work done by the Manchesters in this day's 
fighting :— 

29th September, 19 18. 

Manchesters, 

For the second time in this month of September you have 
struck the enemy a heavy blow. It has brought us appreciably 
nearer to the complete victory which our country is determined 
to achieve. 

I do not yet know the full amount of our booty. It can be 
estimated from the two miles of our advance, and from the 
prisoners, considerably more than a thousand in number. 

I wish to record my admiration for the splendid behaviour 
of all ranks. The victory was won under conditions of excep- 
tional difficulty, and, as at Villers-au-Flos, against an enemy 
superior in numbers to the attackers; and it was won, by the 
magnificent determination and devotion of the troops. 

Anthony Henley, Brig. -Gen., 

Commanding 127th Inf. Brigade. 



CHAPTER X. 

Pursuing the Hun. 

THE SELLE RIVER. 

YET again the vicinity of Havrincourt Wood was 
the abode of the 42nd division, and having been 
supplied with tents we set about the task of refitting 
and reinforcing. Companies once more attained a strength 
of about 100, and as the new men largely consisted of 
troops drafted from non-infantry units, principally A.S.C. 
from England, and men out for the first time, it was 
necessary to push along vigorously with training, for it 
was certain that we should be wanted again for fighting 
very soon. Returns from leave, etc., caused the following 
arrangement of company commanders : — Lieut. Douglas, 
M.C., "A" company; Capt. Grey Burn, M.C., "B"; 
Lieut. Gresty, M.C., " C," and Capt. J. Baker, "D"; 
while Capt. S. J. Wilson, M.C., was detailed to battle 
surplus. In the absence of Col. Manger on English leave, 
Major Rae assumed command of the battalion, while Capt. 
Barratt resumed the duties of adjutant, Capt. Creagh hav- 
ing gone to England on a senior officers' course. 

When the division broke up camp on October 8th and 
marched up the line to get into closer support, the situa- 
tion was roughly as follows. Since the battle on the 
Hindenburg Line the enemy had had no rest, and in spite 
of the difficulties of the ground (in one place a canal 
running north and south intervened) the N.Z's. and 
divisions right and left, had made steady progress, in- 
flicting terrible casualties on the Boche who were sturdily 
resisting every yard of ground. To the north, Cambrai 
was still in the hands of the Hun, and from the continual 



SELLE RIVER. 135 

fires seen in that direction it was obvious that he was 
wreaking characteristic vengeance on the helpless town. 
The part of the Western Front between Cambrai and 
St. Quentin was recognised as the key to the 
whole situation so that naturally exertions were gigantic 
by both sides. Foch maintained his artillery concentra- 
tion in this sector and undoubtedly one of the greatest 
wonders of that year of wonders, 191 8, was the manner 
in which the guns obtained their never-ending supply of 
ammunition. The steady pounding never ceased day or 
night, and when infantry action took place, the noise 
welled up to terrific barrage speed for hours on end. 
When the nerve-shattered German soldier pathetically 
walked over to our lines one morning with hands up and 
exclaiming " Kamerad, too much shell I " he was surely 
expressing the enemy point of view. The line had thus 
been pushed on to the western outskirts of Solesmes, 
and troops in this area were now waiting for the fall of 
Cambrai and Douai to continue the pressure. When these 
events took place preparations were made for another 
batde. 

During the battalion's march forward there was con- 
siderable night-bombing by enemy aircraft, and on the 
first night Sgt. Riley, an old member of the battalion, iwas 
killed and several men of H.Q. wounded by bombs on 
their bivouac. It was a fair country that the 7th were 
now approaching. After seven months' campaigning in 
the dismal devastated lands of the Somme regions the 
sight of whole houses with chimneys and roofs, and smoke 
exuding from them in the correct manner, was as welcome 
as an oasis to the thirsty traveller in the desert. Here 
were billets, a word of which we had almost forgotten to 
use. But picture our excitement when we saw a real live 
civilian. The sight of these things probably brought home 
to our men the full meaning of the German defeat more 
than anything else. The 127th brigade spent a few days 
under most comfortable conditions in the village of 
Beauvois on the Cambrai-Le Cateau road, residing in 
houses, almost complete with furniture. A few of the 
villagers had courageously remained behind, taking cover 



136 SELLE RIVER. 

in their cellars while the fighting and shelling took place 
above their heads. A good deal of wanton destruction 
had been carried out by the retiring Hun, but on the 
whole the countryside presented a normal appearance, a 
most welcome sight to eyes wearied with the scenes of 
devastation, and an important factor also in keeping up 
the morale of the troops. 

Eventually the N.Z's. were relieved, and it was found 
that a very skilful and determined enemy lay in front. 
Subsequent events, indeed, showed that the strongest 
remaining division in the German army, the 25th division, 
had been put into this sector. They had been conserved 
during the recent fighting, and on the prisoners who were 
captured clothing and equipment were brand new. They 
had a proud record extending right through the War, 
and claimed they had never received a beating from any 
British troops. (They were soon to meet their Waterloo.) 
The 126th brigade were detailed to deliver the first shock 
of assault. Their objective included, after crossing 
the Selle River within point blank range of the 
German M.G's. and rifles, a deep Railway Cutting 
east of the main Solesmes road, Belle Vue Farm, 
and the ground immediately beyond the railway. The 
127th brigade were to go through when these positions 
had been made good and occupy the high ground over- 
looking Marou, a small hamlet on the final objective, 
which was to be taken by the 6th Manchesters. 

The battle opened at dawn on October 21st, and after 
very heavy fighting, in which one exceptionally large 
number of the enemy stood and fought hand to hand and 
were killed with the bayonet; the 126th brigade took all 
their objectives in splendid fashion. Then came the Man- 
chesters, the 6th on the left, the 5th on the right, and the 7th 
in close support. The 6th advanced well, but the 5th quickly 
had trouble being held up owing to the troops on their 
right not keeping up. The enemy was fighting well, his 
infantry and machine gunners being particularly stubborn 
and covering their retirement very skilfully. Machine 
guns swept the advancing lines of the 5 th, and the bare 
high ground to be crossed left them very exposed to 



SELLE RIVER. 137 

exceedingly heavy enfilade fire. It was during this portion 
of the fight that Pte. Wilkinson of the Wiganers obtained 
the V.C. for message carrying. Five of his comrades 
had been killed within a few yards after starting on the 
same mission. Wilkinson volunteered to be the sixth to 
make the attempt. He was entrusted with the task and 
got through. 

The 7th were now drawn into the battle, and " D " 
company advanced to form a defensive flank for the 
right company of the 5 th. With this help the line was 
advanced, but it could not reach the final objective and 
so link up with the 5th who had already reached and 
occupied Marou. " A " company had advanced in support 
to the 6th and took up their allotted positions, forming 
four defended localities in depth ready to make a defen- 
sive flank if necessary. The 62nd division on the left had 
pushed through Solesmes and had made good the high 
ground to the east of that town, joining up with the 6th 
Manchesters. At 4.30 p.m. a further barrage was put 
down for the 5th division and the 5th Manchesters to 
continue the advance. The latter, however, were very 
weak, having suffered heavy casualties, therefore " C " 
company of the 7th went forward and advanced to occupy 
the final objectives. The enterprise was entirely successful, 
and a machine gun nest, which had caused most of the 
trouble on the right, was captured, the garrison surrender- 
ing as prisoners. A dangerous counter-attack was re- 
pulsed by " C " and " D " companies and then the line 
was secured, and junction made with the 5th in Marou. 
Enemy artillery fire had been heavy during the day, and 
Battalion H.Q. in a deep ravine suffered severely from 
large calibre shells, so that they moved forward in the 
night to a healthier spot near the 6th H.Q. The positions 
were maintained all next day until relieved by the 125th 
brigade. 

Luckily in this show our casualties were light, totalling 
a loss of about 40 other ranks, very few being killed. The 
action of Capt. Baker in forming the defensive flank for 
the 5th undoubtedly restored an uncertain position, and 
materially assisted in the further advance. We were all 



138 MORMAL FOREST. 

pleased when he was awarded the Military Cross for this 
and general good work throughout the War with che 
7th since June, 191 5. The pace and power of the attack 
can be gauged by the fact that six battalions of the 
redoubtable Hun 25th division, in spite of their proud 
record, were obliterated, and three days after the battle 
the division was disbanded and absorbed in another. 
The destruction of this division was an achievement of 
which the 42nd were justly proud. The motto of " Go 
one better " had been " put over " the Boche in an un- 
mistakable manner. 

On October 23rd the division marched back to Beau- 
vois again, the N.Z. division having once more taken 
up the pursuit of the enemy, following him vigorously 
to the vicinity of Le Quesnoy. The IVth corps were going 
well, and all through these operations it was a noticeable 
feature in the situation maps of the third army front 
published from time to time that they always occupied 
the most advanced positions, and seemed to perform the 
function of the spear head of the attacks. 



MORMAL FOREST. 

As the line of advance for the 42nd division lay through 
th-5 huge Mormal Forest, our training at Beauvois was 
largely in wood fighting. We were making preparations 
for what was to prove the last battle of the War. Col. 
Manger returned from leave and resumed command of 
the battalion, while Major Rae remained on battle surplus 
where, unfortunately, his old illness recurred and he had 
to go to hospital and eventually to England. His excellent 
work with the 7th, however, had been recognised for he 
was awarded the D.S.O. after the Armistice. Capt. Grey 
Burn, M.C., was promoted to Major and became second 
in command of the 5th L.F's. " B " company being taken 
over by Capt. Branthwaite, a recently joined 2nd line 
officer. Capt. D. Norbury, having returned from a tour 
of duty at home, was made O.C. " A " company, while 
Capt. S. J. Wilson, M.C., commanded " C " company. 



MORMAL FOREST. 139 

The battalion marched out on the evening of November 
3rd to take part in the work of exploiting success after the 
N.Z. division had smashed the enemy line. The attack 
commenced on the morning of November 4th, and after 
fierce fighting, and only after the garrison had been com- 
pletely surrounded, Le Quesnoy was captured. The 
" Diggers " followed up vigorously and chased the Huns 
through a large part of Mormal Forest. Meanwhile our 
job was to " keep closed up " as far as possible and be 
ready to continue the pursuit, with the 126th leading and 
the 127th in support. The first night was spent at Viesly, 
and the second at Pont a Pierre, just south of Salesches. 
The next day the weather completely broke down, and 
we moved forward in pouring rain, over the recently 
captured ground, arriving late at night in a thoroughly 
soaked condition at the tiny village of Herbignies on the 
western edge of the Forest. Here we found most of 
the civilians had remained through the fighting, and 
they told excited stories of the happenings. Small chil- 
dren toddled about the houses while Boche shells were 
still bursting not very many hundred yards away. It 
seemed a most extraordinary situation after the loneliness 
of war as we had always known it. These things had 
been the monopoly of the soldiers, but here were women 
and children trespassing upon our preserves. It helped 
us to realise the true tragedy of War. 

That night the 126th brigade took over the front, a 
sketchy business in view of the position, and the N.Z's. 
marched back. One of the officers, during the day, had 
called out to us in characteristic Colonial fashion, " Well, 
boys, are you going up to finish it ? " whereupon one of 
the men replied with Lancashire directness, " Ay, we 
started it, so we may as well finish it." There was a good 
deal of peace-talk flying about. German prisoners had 
admitted that they could not go on tnuch longer, while 
rumours about conferences were very prevalent. Still, 
until we got orders to stop fighting, this job had to con- 
tinue, and that was the chief consideration for us, although 
the order to cease fire would have been keenly apprecia- 
ted. 



140 MORMAL FOREST. 

Early morning found us on trek in a steady downpour 
of rain which made our already wet clothes more and 
more sodden. In this doleful fashion we splashed along 
over the muddy forest tracks to get close to the East 
Lanes, who were carrying out an attack. The 8th Man- 
chesters had a particularly stern time, encountering nests 
of machine guns which had not been cleared from their 
exposed flanks, so that they lost very heavily. Neverthe- 
less, the attack was eventually pushed home, and the 
Huns were dislodged. Subsequent events revealed that 
from this moment the German retirement became a 
scurry of a disorganised rabble. The roads were blocked 
by their hurrying transport, and personnel simply made the 
best use of their legs, scampering across country where 
it was impossible to march on the roads. The civilians 
told us that utter confusion reigned everywhere. Our 
foremost troops undoubtedly met determined resistance 
from the machine gunners, but they were probably bliss- 
fully ignorant of what was taking place behind them. 

As far as the 7th was concerned November 6th was one 
of the most miserable and trying days ever experienced. 
In the middle of the morning we arrived at our position, 
where we stayed during the whole of the day in a bitterly 
cold rain with no possibility of shelter. When it was 
ascertained that the enemy had been dislodged we made 
a few fires and tried to restore life to our numbed bodies. 
The divisional commander, having seen our condition, 
and realising that very few in the brigade would be fit 
for fighting after two such days, ordered up the 125th 
brigade, who had had an opportunity of getting dry and 
warm. We marched joyfully back in the middle of the 
night to Le Carnoy and there spent two days in billets. 

The advance of the 42nd was now rapid. Hautmont, a 
fairly large manufacturing town, was captured after street 
fighting, and by the evening of November 9th an outpost 
line had been established south-east of Maubeuge. The 
7th meanwhile had marched up through the forest and 
were billeted in the small village of Vieux Mesnil. Here 
we received official orders to stand fast on the morning 
of November nth. At 11 a.m. the battalion paraded 



ARMISTICE. 141 

outside the church and there the bugles sounded " Cease 
fire" for the first and last time during the War. The men 
took the news very quietly. We were too close to actual 
events to give ourselves over to the mad demonstrations 
of joy such as took place in spots more remote. At the 
same time everyone experienced a curious feeling of 
calm satisfaction that an unpleasant task had been accom- 
plished. The 42nd division had taken part in two great 
drives, the clearing of the Turk from British territory 
in 1 91 6 and the clearing of the Hun from allied territory 
in 1918. 



CHAPTER XL 

Aftermath and Home. 



THE division concentrated at Hautmont, and on 
November 14th the 7th marched into this town, 
and there occupied billets close to the Square. We 
now had an opportunity of realising the manner in which 
the Hun had delivered his last expiring kicks. Delay 
action mines had been placed under the railway at various 
points, and although one of the terms of the Armistfce 
demanded that they should be indicated and removed, 
many were too near the time for explosion to allow of 
their being touched. As a result the railhead could not 
proceed beyond Caudry for some time, and it was neces- 
sary to convey supplies over a considerable distance by 
road. As arrangements had also to be made to feed the 
civilians, and repatriated prisoners of war, who now began 
to stream across the frontiers in an appallingly emaciated 
condition, some idea will be gained of the difficulty of 
keeping the troops sufficiently rationed. The men of the 
7th, however, realised this and took a common sense 
view of the matter. 

In the second week of December the 42nd division 
marched up into Belgium to Charleroi, the 127th brigade 
being quartered at Fleurus, a delightful village about six 
miles out of the town. Here the men of the 7th had a 
most happy time, for the villagers welcomed us right 
gladly and made us extremely comfortable in our billets. 
Turkeys, beer, extra vegetables and rum once more 
figured in the 'Xmas fare and it was with really rejoicing 
hearts that the Fleur de Lys spent their last Yuletide 
away from home. " C " company maintained the prowess 
of the battalion by securing the divisional prize for the 




AREA COVERED DURING ADVANCE OF 42nd DIVISION, 1918 



Facing Page 143 




AREA COVERED DURING ADVANCE OF 42nd DIV 



Facing Page 143 



HOME. 143 

best decorated dining hall. Later, chiefly through the 
efforts of C.S.M. Branchflower and Sgt. Aldred, M.M., 
we carried off the divisional cup for boxing. 

On 'Xmas Eve the first of a series of events at once sad 
and joyful began to occur. Long-standing friendships and 
partnerships were rapidly broken up by the departure of 
drafts for demobilisation. Every few days parties went off, 
and one saw old faces gradually disappear from our ranks. 
The return, in the midst of glorious weather, of Capt. Barratt 
and Lt. Gresty, M.C. from Manchester, with the battalion 
colours was the occasion for a splendid ceremonial parade 
in which the Belgians took a lively interest. It was a 
proud moment when they were safely deposited in the 
officers' mess, and everyone took a share in their due 
honours. 

The final stage in the long adventurous career of the 
7th Manchesters during this great war was completed 
on March 31st when the cadre of the battalion, led by 
Brevet Lt.-Col. Manger, arrived at Exchange Station, 
Manchester, and amidst a tremendous and enthusiastic 
concourse of people proudly made their way through the 
city to Burlington Street, to deposit the colours in their 
home at the depot. The following Saturday evening a 
reception was held, when large numbers of men and 
officers with their friends united once more to do honours 
to the record of their battalion. 



Appendix I. 



HONOURS AND AWARDS TO MEMBERS 
OF THE BATTALION. 



OFFICERS. 



Fawcus, Major (Actg. Lieut.-Col.) 
A. E. F. 



Manger, Major (temp. Lieut.-Col.) 

E. V. 
Hodge, Lieut. (Actg. Lieut.-Col.) 

A. 

Canning, Lieut.-Col. A. (Attached) 



Cronshaw, Major (Actg. Lieut. 
Col.) A. E. 



Carr, (Actg. Lieut.-Col.) H. A. 
Brown, Major J. N. 



Distinguished Service Order. 

Military Cross. 

Legion d'honneur. 

Mentioned in Dispatches, 
Gallipoli (twice). 

Mentioned in Dispatches, 
France, June, 191 8. 

Brevet Lieut. -Colonel. 

C.M.G. 

Distinguished Service Order. 

Military Cross. 

Mentioned in Dispatches. 

Order of St. Michael and St. 
George (3rd Class or Com- 
panion). 

Mentioned in Dispatches. 

Distinguished Service Order. 

Royal Serbian Order of the White 
Eagle. 

Mentioned in Dispatches, France, 

7. 11. 17. 
Distinguished Service Order. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Brevet Majority, 3.6.15. 
Distinguished Service Order. 
Royal Serbian Order of the White 

Eagle (4th Class). 
Japanese Sacred Treasure (3rd 

Class). 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 

16.3.16, E.E.F. 25.9.16, E.E.F 

1 6. 1. 1 8, E.E.F. 



APPENDIX I.— Continued. 



145 



Burn, (Actg. Major) F. G. 

Creagh, Major P. H 

Scott, Major & Quartermaster J., 
D.C.M. 

Rae, Major G. B. L 

Staveacre, Major J. H. 

Creagh, Capt. (Actg. Major) J. R. 

Chadwick, Capt. G. 

Hayes, Capt. F. 

Nasmith, Capt. G. W 

Thorpe, Capt. J. H. 

Whitley, Capt. (Actg. Lieut.-Col.) 
N. H. P. 



Farrow, Capt. J., R.A.M.C. 

Nidd, Capt. H. H. ... 

Williamson, Capt. C. H. ... 
Baker, Lieut. (Actg. Capt.) J. ... 
Collier, Capt. H. ... 

Kirby, Capt. E. T. (C.F.) 

Hoskyns, Capt. E. C. (C.F.) 
Norbury, Capt. C. ... 

Norbury, Capt. M 

Branthwaite, Capt. R. H.... 
Douglas, Lieut. C. B. 
Edge, Lieut. N. ... 
Goodall, Lieut. J. C. 
Goodier, 2nd-Lt. A. 

Gresty, Lieut. W. ... 
Harris, Lieut. L. G. 

Siddall, 2nd-Lt. J. R 

Wilson, Lieut. (Actg. Capt.), S. J. 



Military Cross. 

Mentioned in Dispatches, France, 

6.7.17, and Egypt, Dec. 1917. 
Distinguished Service Order. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 26.8. 1 5, 

E.E.F. 11. 12. 15, E.E.F. 
Order of the British Empire. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 

Gallipoli, E.E.F., 10.4. 16. 
Distinguished Service Order. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 26.8.15. 

{Killed in Action). 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 7.1 1. 17, 

1S.11.18. 
Royal Serbian Order of the White 

Eagle (4th Class). 
Military Cross. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, July, 

1916; July, 1917. 
Order of the British Empire. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Order of the British Empire. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Military Cross. 
Croix de Guerre, France. 
Crown of Italy. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 

Gallipoli, E.E.F. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross, {Died). 
Military Cross. {Killed in Action). 
Military Cross. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 

Mentioned in Dispatches, 24.5.18. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 1 6.1. 1 8. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 7.1 1. 17. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 

Awarded Commission m the Field. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross and Bar. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 8.1 1. 18. 



146 



APPENDIX I.— Continued. 



Franklin, Lieut. H. C. 

Allen, Capt. C. R 

Bagshaw, Lieut. K.... 
Welch, Lieut. (King's Own) 

Gorst, 2nd-Lt. H 

Milne, 2nd-Lt. J. H. 

Harland, 2nd-Lt. J. A. ... 
Thrutchley, 2nd-Lt. F. D.... 
Woodworth, Lieut. F. T. K. 
Thorp, Lieut. W. T. 



Military Cross. 

Mentioned in Dispatches, 10.4.16. 
Military Cross. [Killed in Action). 
Military Cross. 
Distinguished Service Order. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 
Mentioned in Dispatches. 
Military Cross. 
Military Cross. 

Mentionea'in Dispatches, 8.1 1. 18. 
Mentioned in Dispatches, 24.5.18. 
{Killed in Action). 



NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN. 

Abbreviations : 

M.M. =Military Medal. 

D.C.M. = Distinguished Conduct Medal, 

M.S.M = Meritorious Service Medal. 



276236 Aldred, Sgt. J. M.M. 
1070 Anlezark, R.S.M. W. 

M.S.M. 

275726 Bailey, Pte. S. M.M. 

275782 Banahan, Sgt. J. do. 
275021 Bamber, Sgt. F. D.C.M. 
M.S.M. 
275039 Booker, L/c F. W. M.M. 
276702 Botham, Pte. W. E. do. 
275889 Bowman, Pte. J. do. 

276845 Boydell, Pte. J. do. 

276327 Bradshaw, Pte. W. do. 
276418 Braithwaite, Pte. T. do. 
276264 Broughton, Cpl. A. do. 

280 Calow, Sgt. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 
275125 Clavering, Sgt. H. 

M.S.M. 
275103 Clough, R.Q.M.S. S. 

Croix de Guerre (Belgian). 
276047 Colhnge, Pte. H. M.M. 
1536 Connelly, Pte. J. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 



275724 Conry, Pte. R. E. M.M. 
2761 5 1 Craven, L/c A. do. 

303461 Daley, Sgt. W. M.M. 

5 1 1 67 Davies, Pte. W. T. do. 

276842 Dearden, Pte. R. do. 

275 141 Downs, Pte. A. do. 

300991 Eastwood, Cpl. W. M.M. 
276856 Edwards, Pte. R. do. 

275173 Fidler, Sgt. W. M.M. 
105 Fielding, Sgt. W. 

Mentd. in Dispatches 
275161 Fleetwood, Sgt. A. 

D.C.M. 
1904 Franks, L/c J. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 
275201 Gammond, A/Sgt. T. A. 

M.M. 

375395 Green, Sgt. J. W. D.C.M. 

M.M. 

{Killed in Action.) 

277007 Greer, Pte. A. 

M.M. and Bar 



APPENDIX I- Continue?. 



M7 



276028 Gregory. Cpl. B. M.M. 
276254 Gofiey/Sgt. W. do. 



27521S 

57548 

295015 
52U 



2764S6 

42732 

275524 



550239 



276171 

2764: 



Hadfield, Sgt. A. M.M. 
Halfhide, Pte. C. do. 

Hand. Sgt. A. D.C.M. 
Hartnett, R.S.M.N. 

Wounds.) 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 
Hayhurst, Pte. M.M. 

Heasman, L/C A. D.C.M. 
Heath, Sgt. F. 

{Died of Wounds.) 
M.M. and Bar. 
Holbrook, Sgt. J. D.C.M. 
Horsfield, Sgt. D.C.M. 
M.M. 
Croix de Guerre (Belgian). 
Hyde, L/c L. M.M. 



!4 Jackson, L/c E. 

{Died of Wounds.) 

M.M. 

276973 Tennions, Pte. H. do. 

376666 Tolley, Sgt. J. do. 

275281 Joyce. C.S.M. M.M. 

Gold Medal of St. George 

of Russia (2nd Class). 

276640 King, Cpl. A. W. D.C.M. 

276648 Latham, Pte. H. M.M. 
275319 Lockett, Cpl. S. 

{Died of Wounds.) 
D.C.M. 
276719 Lyons. Pte. C. M.M. 

276482 Lynn, Sgt. H. do. 

275326 Lievesley, Sgt. J. L. do. 



275705 

275822 

2409 



275935 
275355 

400535 
276020 

40 
275365 



Macguire, Cpl. A. M.M. 
Mather, Sgt. D.C.M. 

McCartney, L/c H. S. 

{Killed in Action.) 
Mentd. in Dispatches. 
McClean, Pte. T. M.M. 
McHugh, C.S.M. D.C.M. 
M.M. and Bar. 
Moore, Pte. T. C. M.M. 
Morris. L/c G. do. 

Mort. L/Sgt. W. D.C.M. 
Mottram, L/Sgt. G. M.M. 



! Mullm. Pte. C. 



M.M. 



Ogden, R.Q.M.S. 

M.S.M. 
Mentioned in Dispati bes. 

275426 Parker, Sgt G. M.M. 

40S49 Parkin, Pte. I. do. 

12782 Pickering, Pte. \V. do. 
276932 Quinn, Pte. J. D.C.M. 



49738 

j 2 (.3 

276535 
275468 

48576 

3:647 



Reeves, Pte. E. M.M. 

Richardson, Pte. M. 

DA' M. 
Riley, Pte. J. G. M.M. 
Riley, Sgt. R. do. 

{Aillcd in Action.) 
Rotham, Pte. T- M.M. 



Rourke, Pte. 



do. 



275509 Sanderson, Pte. G. M.M. 
57229 Shaughnessy, Pte. W. 

M.M. 
275495 Shields, C.S.M. J. M.S.M. 
Mentd. in Dispatches. 
2 755*3 Snadham, Cpl. J. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 
376453 Standring, Cpl. \Y. M.M. 
233 Stanton, Sgt. J. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 
57216 Stubbard, Pte. R. M.M. 

275571 Tabbron, C.S.M. D.C.M. 
276540 Thorpe, Sgt. H. M.M. 
3036^4 Titchener, Pte. E. do. 
275883 Tittenngton, L/Sgt. 

H.L. M.M. 

277020 Twist, L/c T. 

M.M. and Bar. 
275590 Walsh, Pte. J. M.M. 

275604 Walton, Pte. F. G. do. 
275646 Warrington, Pte.W. do. 
277635 Wisken,Pte. A. do. 

{Died of Wounds.) 

275627 White, Cnl. F. D.C.M. 

Mentd. in Dispatches. 

275632 Wilkinson, Pte. H. M.M. 

51624 Wilkinson. Pte. J. do. 
2 7595 2 Wilmer, Pte. R. do. 

295025 Wood, Cpl. T. D.C.M. 



Appendix II. 



MEMBERS OF THE BATTALION KILLED IN ACTION, 
DIED OF WOUNDS, MISSING, Etc. 



As these lists may not contain the names of all those members 
of the battalion who made the supreme sacrifice, I tender my 
apologies to the friends and relations of those whose names have 
been omitted. Some difficulty has been experienced, however, 
in making the lists as full as they are. S.J.W* 



OFFICERS 



Allen, Capt. C. R., M.C. 
Bacon, Lieut. A. H. 
Brown, Lieut. T. F. 
Carley, Lieut. 
Cooper, Lieut. C. M. 
Dudley, Lieut. C. L. 
Freemantle, Lieut. W. O... 
Granger, Lieut. H. M. 
Grant, Lieut. R. W. G. .. 
Kay, Lieut. H. N. 
Lomas, Lieut. F. 
Ludlam, Lieut. E. W. 
McLaine, Lieut. D. 
Nidd, Capt. H. H., M.C. .. 

Pearson, Lieut. H. 
Philp, R.A.M.C., Capt. .. 

Ray, Lieut. H. M 

Rylands, Capt. R. V. 
Savatard, Capt. T. W. .. 
Staveacre, Major J. H. .. 
Sievewright, Lieut. M. J... 
Thewlis, Lieut. H. D. .. 
Thorp, Lieut. W. T. 
Tinker, Capt. A. H. 
Ward, Lieut. G. H. 
Williamson, Capt. C. H., M.C. 
Wender, Lieut., D.C.M. 
Wood, Lieut. A. S. 



Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Died of Wounds 
Died of Sickness contracted 
during the war 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
(R.F.C.) Killed in Action 
Killed in Action 
Died of Wounds 



27.9. 


iS 


7.8. 


[ 5 


30.5- 


5 


27.9. 


i8 


.0.10. 


18 


4.6. 


'5 


4.6. 


IS 


29.5. 


15 


25-5- 


17 


21.8. 


18 


4.6. 


15 


28.3. 


18 


2.4. 


18 


4-3- 


19 


27.9. 


18 


27-3- 


18 


27.9. 


18 


29.5. 


!5 


29.5. 


15 


4.6. 


15 


2. 11. 


17 


4.6. 


15 


28.3. 


18 


28.3. 


18 


4.6. 


r 5 


27-3- 


17 


16.6. 


18 


29-3- 


18 



APPENDIX U.— Continued. 



'49 



NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN. 
Killed in Action. 



1533 Abercrombie, Pte. E 

16.12 

5204 Adamson, Pte. C. 27.9 

1665 Adderley, Pte. E. 4.6 

275740 Alman, Pte. T. 14.9. 

490 Anderson, Cpl. R. 4.6 

2045 Anderton, Pte. F. 

1740 Ayres, Pte. W. A. 4.6 



1355 
2343 
2403 
2215 
1968 

3oi4 

1S88 

27504 

1347 

52996 

275059 

74429 
276522 

2009 
275823 
276100 

1941 

1228 
275956 

2438 

59824 

276693 

980 

2018 



Bailey, Pte. W. 4.6 

Bain, Pte. T. P. 4.6 

Balon, Pte. E. 29.5 

Banks, Pte. A. 4.6 

Bannan, Pte. 4.12 

Barber, Pte. S. 10.8 

Barks, Pte. F. C. 7.12 

Barnes, Pte. J. H. 8.9 

Barnett, Pte. I. 29.5 

Barratt, Pte. R. 21.8 

Barrow, L/c T.E. 8.9 

Barry, Pte. R. J. 21.8 
Bedford, Pte. F. A. 



27.9 
Bell, Pte. A. 4.6 

Bennett, Cpl. C. 27.9 
Bennet, Pte. R. 5.4 
Bent, Pte. W. 16.9 

Berry, Cpl. J. 4.6 

Beswick, Pte. R. 27.9 
Billington, Pte. H. 4.6 
Bincliffe, Pte. A. 27.9 
Bland, Pte. H.W. 28.3 
Bleasdale, Pte.W. 30.5 
Boardman, Pte. A. H. 
19.9 
2143 Bouchier, Pte. G. C. 

4.6 
4.6 
27.9 
2.9 
7.8 
18.9 

3i-5 

28.10 

4.6 



49841 
277064 
1873 
3456 
1009 
276676 
1617 



Bowe, Pte. G. 
Bowling, Pte. T. 
Boyd, Cpl. H. 
Bridge, Pte. E. 
Bright, Pte. W. 
Bromley, L/c E. 
Brookes, Pte. A. 
Brookes, Pte. J. 



275929 Broughton, Pte. V. 

28.3 
1534 Brown, Pte. E. 4.6 

2290 Brown, Pte. G. 4.6 

2257 Bruce, Pte. W. 31.5 
1730 Buckley, Pte. W. 5.6 
1 712 Burgess, Pte. A. 5.6 
1 197 Burgess, Pte. J. 4.6 

276966 Burns, Pte. R. 28.3 



2336 
275111 

2192 

76918 

276657 

143 1 
1402 
2255 
1277 



8 275968 

8 2070 

5 2363 

8 2125 

8 231 1 

5 276697 

5 275110 

8 1662 

5 201 1 

8 4084 
164 



Callaghan, Pte. H. 9.6 
Calardine, L/c J. 25.3 
Callon, Pte. J. W. 4.6 
Carr, Pte. A. E. 21.8 
Castrey, Pte. E. 28.10 
Cavanagh, Pte. F. 4.6 
Cawley, Pte. B. 8.8 
Chadwick, Pte. C. 4.6 
Chadwick, Pte. W. 

18.9 
ChappelL Cpl. J. H. 

25.8 
Chappell, Pte. L. 
Clare, Pte. H. 
Clarke, Pte. E. E 
Clime, Pte. J. 
Colley, Pte. W. J. 
Collier, L/c C. 
Collins, Pte. R. C 
Collins, Pte. W. 
Connor, Pte. J. 
Cookson, Sgt. S 



1948 
1897 
1212 

24754 
3033 



Cott, Pte. T. 
Cousell, Pte. J. 
Cox, Pte. J. 

Croughan, Cpl. C. 27.9 
Cunnington, Pte. R. 



4.8 
4.6 
4.6 
4.6 

27.9 

27.8 
4.6 

3i.5 
i-9 
R. 

29.5 
4.6 
4.6 

3i-5 



276265 Darbyshire, Pte. H. 

6.5. 

2333 Davies, Pte. C. 13.5. 

74436 Davies, Pte. G. 20.10. 

1931 Davies, Pte. T. A. 4.6. 



■5° 



APPENDIX 11.— Continued. 



2098 Dawson, Pte. T. 



B. 

29.5. 
18.8. 

7.8. 

4.6. 



275130 Day, Pte. H. G. 

2831 Dean, Pte. H. 

1772 Dillon, Pte. H. 

2247 Ding, Pte. W. H. 30.5. 

61024 Dodd, Pte. J. 27.9. 

1301 Dodds, Pte. J. E. 4.6. 

1 145 Doolen, Pte. R.J. 4.6. 

2315 Draper, Pte. J. E. 4.6. 

2457 Driver, Pte. R. 18.9. 

74406 Duckley, Pte. L. 8.10. 

275140 Dyehouse, L/c W. H. 

27.9. 

74435 Dyke, Pte. F. G. 20.10. 

268 Eardley,Pte. G. 4.6. 

77445 Edgerton, Pte. G. J. A. 
10.6. 

276670 Elphinsone, Pte. R. J. 

28.3. 

276593 England, Pte. E. 8.9. 

2077 England, Pte. W. 4.6. 

277013 Evans, Pte. G. 29.10. 



2478 

275910 

1921 

2432 



Farrar, Pte. A. 7.8. 

Farrington, Pte. A. 2.9. 
Fawdrey, Pte. G. 4.6. 
Finch, Pte. H. B 



4.6. 

4.6. 

29.5. 

4.6. 



2364 Fitchett, Pte. F. 
2130 Fisher, Pte. B. 
2217 Fisher, Pte. J. 
1700 Fitzsimmons, Pte. J. 

4.6. 
37736 Fletcher, Pte. E. H. 

27.9. 
275 17 1 Foden, Sgt. W. 27.9. 
275163 Ford, Pte. P. 27.9, 

276513 Ford, Pte. R. 14.9. 

276602 Forester, Pte. J. H. 3.5, 
275970 Franklin, Pte. L. 11.9. 

2302 Gamble, Pte. 4.6. 

275190 Gardener, Pte.W. 27.9. 

38692 Garratt, Pte. J. 11.9. 

276558 Garrett, Pte. A. 6.1. 

2176 Gibbons, Pte. J. 4.6. 

1926 Gillibrand, Pte. A. 4.6, 

39393 Gilbert, Pte. R. 27.9. 



2212 Goulding, Pte. P. 4.6. 
2362 Graham, Pte. J. A. 

3i-5- 

276999 Graham, Pte. W. H. 

8.9. 
2397 Grainger, Pte. H. M. 

29.5. 
2399 Green, Pte. J. D. 4.6. 
375395 Green, Sgt. J.W., 

D.C.M., M.M. 21.8. 
1313 Gresty, Pte. F. 13.7. 



1397 

41749 

1352 

275981 

3205 

276861 
1720 

2450 
2378 
34i6 

1369 

1259 
2401 
57162 
1627 
1799 

49513 

60404 

2164 

2386 

238 

275264 
495 1 1 

1178 
3287 

1856 

275013 

54400 

2413 

1358 



Hall, Pte. C. 13.7. 

Hall, Pte. H. 14.6. 

Hallam, Pte. F. 4.6. 
Hamilton, Pte. G. 26.6. 
Hammersley, Pte. J. 

19.9. 
Hampson, Pte. J. 29.3. 
Hargreaves, Pte. H. 

4.6. 
Hading, Pte. J. 4.6. 
Harrison, Pte. E. 13.5. 
Harrison, Pte. H. N. 

16.9. 
Harrison, Pte. T. S. 

9.11. 
Heath, Pte. G. 4.6. 
Hewitt, Pte. W. 4.6. 
Higham, Pte. T. 27.9. 
Hinchliffe, Pte. W. 4.6. 
Hilditch, Pte. 4.6. 

Hills, L/c G. G. 21.8. 
Hindly, Pte. J. B. 21.8. 
Hobbs, Pte. 1. 31.5. 
Holland, Pte.J. H. 4.6. 
Holdercroft, Pte. F. 

4.6. 
Hodgkins, Pte.W. 23.5. 
Hodgkinson, Pte. J. D 

9.6. 
Hodson, Pte. F. 4.6. 
Hollingworth, Pte. D. 

7.8. 
Holmes, Pte. S. 4.6. 
Holt, Cpl. J. 27.9. 

Hope, Pte. J. W. 27.9. 
Horrocks, Pte. W. E. 

7.8. 
Horrox, Pte. W. 29.5. 



APPENDIX II.— Continued. 



«5> 



•5300 Hughson, Ttc. G. 27.9.18 
2351 Hunt. Pte. F. 4.6.15 
1922 Hunt. Pte. S. A. 4.6.15 



276634 Ikin, Pte. J. W. 
275876 Ingram, Pte. H. 

276054 

276433 
203 

2313 



1520 
276659 

750 

1823 

50338 

3669 

1 1 iS 

51893 

1935 
1841 
1663 
1674 
2026 

1331 

7447 1 
2360 



1748 

1807 

275318 

1570 
3207 
1898 
3532 
44370 
2282 

275330 
1296 

2374 
2160 
2416 
1923 



6.5.17 
6.1. 18 



Jackson. Pte. J. 


1S.4. 


iS 


Jackson, L/c J. 


4-". 


15 


Jackson, Pte. J. 


S. 4.6. 


'5 


Jennings, Pte. \V. G. 






12.6. 


15 


Jepson, Pte. W. 
Jonnson, Pte. J. 


8.8. 


IS 


H. 






30-3- 


18 


Jones, Pte. H. 


4.6. 


'5 


Jones, Pte. J. 


4.6. 


15 


Judge, Pte.'M. 


26.9. 


18 


Kaufmann, Pte. 


S. 






5.12. 


'5 


Kearney, Pte. A 


D. 




Keeber, Pte. H. 


27.9. 


18 


Keehle, Pte. F. 


29.5. 


'5 


Keegan, Pte. G. 


29.5. 


15 


Kellett, Pte. W. 


4.6. 


15 


Kelly, Pte. H. 


29.5. 


15 


Kelly, Pte. J. 


4.6. 


•5 


Kenyon, Pte. A. 


3i-5- 


15 


Kerfoot, Pte. F. 


1.7. 


18 


Kershaw, Pte. J 


H. 






4.6. 


15 


Kidd, Pte. T. 


3-8. 


iS 



Lamb, Pte. R. 4-6.15 

Laver, Pte. H. 8.8.15 

Lawton, Sgt. C. H. 

8.11.17 
Lee, Pte. J. M. 13.8. 15 
Lee, Pte. W. H. 24.12.15 
Lees, Pte. W. 4.6.15 

Leigh, Pte. W. 18.8. 16 
Livesley, Pte. W. 27.9.18 
Lomas, Pte. F. 4.6.15 

Lomas, Pte. G. A. 28.3.18 
Longshaw, Pte. R. 4.6. 1 5 
Lowerson, Pte. H. 4.6.15 
Lyons, Pte. J. 4.6.15 

Lyons, Pte. T. 9. 10. 15 
Lythe, Pte. F. 8.8.15 



1045 

[282 

40717 

275360 

2177 

4=547 

275865 

276302 
2409 

1361 

•9434 

1647 

276874 

1442 

276175 

1681 

276096 

275887 

2408 

276612 

42526 

252 

85281 

1874 
1906 

74459 



Malcv, Pte. E. 4.6 

Manley, Pte. |. N. 16.8 
M.illis. Pte. G.W. 12.9 
Martin, Pie. W. H. 

23-5 
Marvin, Pte. G. 4.6 
Mason, Pte. J. 27.9 
Master, Pte. E. H. 

28.3 
Mates, Cpl. T. 23.8 
McCartney, "L/c II. S. 
7.8 
McClure, Pte. E. 8.8 
McKeown, Pte. E. 

22 7 
McKie, Pte. W. K. 4.6 
McVey, Pte. J. 5.4 

McWilliam, Pte. R. 

4.6 
Mellor, Pte. G. 5.4 

Mernman, Cpl. R. 4.6 
Metcalfe, Sgt. F. E. 

9.9 
Milhgan, Pte. A. J. 

26.6 
Milligan, Pte. J. 
Milward, Pte. K. 
Mitchell, Pte. H. 
Molyneux, Pte. H 



Morrell, Pte. J. 
Morris, Pte. A. 
Moisey, Pte. J. 
Myers, Pte. R. 



31-5 
18.4 
27.9 
. S. 

7.8 

27.9 

4.6 

4-6 

21.8 



42166 Nevin, Pte. J. S. 27.9 
2455 Newbold, Pte. S. 28.5 

1485 Oarkinson, Pte. A. C. 

29.5. 

2428 Oates, Pte. L. 30.5. 

3298 O'Brien, Pte. A. 18.9. 

276431 Oldham, Pte. W. 1.9. 

276288 Ormerod, Pte. A. E. 

29-3- 

1695 Page, Pte. A. 4.6. 

295017 Parsons, Cpl. F. N. 

23-7- 



152 



APPENDIX II.— Continued. 



1278 Passant, Pte. R. 31. 5. 15 
48 Peacock, Pte. W. H. 

4.6.15 
891 Pearce, Pte. F. 4.6.15 
51741 Pearson, Pte. G. 27.9.18 
2454 Phillips, Pte. J. P. 

3I-5-I5 
2300 Pickles, Pte. W. 4.6.15 
21 19 Pope, Pte. W. 4.5.15 



2132 

275481 

2044 

1 67 1 
1258 
2805 

275468 

1991 
1283 

276473 
10788 

276039 

2355 
1680 



276630 
2003 
276241 
276888 
276551 
2033 



Raper, Pte. A. E. 4.6.15 
Rawlings, Pte. H. 9. 10. 17 
Rawlinson, Pte. W. R. 

4.6.15 
Rawson, Pte. W. 21. 5. 15 
Rhodes, Pte. J.W. 4.6.15 
Rideal, L/c J. H. 8.8.15 
Riley, Sgt. R., M.M. 

8. 10.18 
Roberts, Pte. A. 18.8. 16 
Robertson. 29.5.15 

Rogers, Pte. S. 27.8.19 
Rogerson, Pte. W. H. 

27.9.18 
Rosewell, L/Sgt. A. 

21.8. 18 
Royle, Pte. F. E. H. 

4.6.15 
Russell, Pte. W. H. 

30.5-15 



Salter, Pte. H. 
Sanderson, Pte. J 
Scraton, Pte. C. 
Shaw, Pte. B. 
Shearere, Pte. G. 
Shepherd, Pte. J. 



2243 Shipley, Pte. J. E 
276533 Sidebottom, Pte. 



275506 
3018 

1673 
2245 
1657 
1187 
1956 
275489 



Smith, Pte. H. 
Smith, Pte. M. 
Smith, Pte. R. S. 
Smith, Pte.W. H. 
Smith, Pte. W. H 
Stanton, Cpl. W. 
Starkie, Pte. C. 
Steel, Pte. R. 



30-4-I7 
I3-5-I5 
27.9.18 
21.8.18 
30.3.18 
E. 
30.5-I5 

16.10.15 
H. 

29.11. 17 

4.4.18 

1 6.9. 1 5 

3I-5-I5 

29.5.15 

.29.5.15 

7.8.15 

4.6.15 

6.5.17 



29421 Stott, Pte. A. 20.10.18 

2369 Super, Pte. C. 26.5.15 

276967 Sweeney, Pte. J. 21.8. 18 

275903 Tanner, Sgt. A. 27.9.18 
27555° Tanner, Sgt. E. 13.5. 18 
277005 Tardoe, Pte. P. 29.3.18 
57266 Taylor, Pte. H. 27.9.18 
276421 Taylor, Pte. J. 24.10.18 
276240 Taylor, Pte. J. H. 10.6.18 
1846 Taylor, Pte. S. 31. 5. 15 
276410 Thomas, Pte. J. A. 

18.8.17 
57453 Thompson, Pte. S. E. 

21.8.18 
1040 Thompson, Pte. T. 

29.5.15 
275558 Thornily, Pte. B. 13.5. 18 
57442 Timothy, Pte. E. 27.9.18 
275866 Titterington, Cpl. F. 

27.9.18 
3021 Twigg, Pte. F. A. 7.8.15 

1943 Vardon, Pte. C. 31.5.15 

1413 Verity, L/c J. 4.6.15 

277759 Vickers, Pte. J. H. 5.4.18 



1835 Walker, Pte. R. 

2057 Walker, Pte. S. 
275606 Wallace, L/c E. 

1775 Walley, Pte. H. 
275597 Ward, Pte. J. 

2322 Watmough, Pte. A. 4.6.15 
275793 Watmough, Pte.W. 5.4.18 

2270 Webb, Pte. S. 4.6.15 

521 Webster, Sgt. H. 29.5.15 
276962 Welsh, Pte. R. 

1893 Whelan, Pte. J. 

1725 White, Pte. R. 
202152 White, Pte. J. 

2261 Whitely, Pte. J. B. 7.8.15 
55933 Whittaker, Pte. A. T. 

27.9.18 
276605 Wilbraham, Pte. T. 



4.6.15 
29.5.15 
7.1. 18 
4.6.15 
5.4.18 



3-5-17 

4.6.15 

29.5.15 

27.9.18 



2335 
2226 



1573 
295 1 19 



Wild, Pte. G. 
Wilde, Pte. H. J. 

Williams, Pte. A. 
Williams, Pte. J. 



30.4.17 

21. 7.18 

R. 

29.5.15 
4.6.15 
1. 6. 1 7 



APPENDIX 


II. — Continual. 


1 


53 


1354 Williams, Pte. R. 29.5.15 
245S Williams, Pte. W. V. 


'939 Wood, I'te. A. 
3642 Woodward, Pte. 


£* 


'5 


4.6.15 
13 1 1 Wilson, Pte. L. 4.6.1 5 
2406 Winter, Pte. D. 29.5.15 
714 Winterbottom, L/c G. 


298004 Wookey, Pte. A 

i').\| Worrall. Pte. S. 


1.12. 

J. 

27.9. 
29.5. 


IS 

18 

15 


57246 Wittle, Pte. F. 27.9.18 


275716 Young, I'te. G. 
8002 Young, L/c IT. 


27.9. 


18 



Dead — Presinned Killed in Action. 



1976 Duffy.Pte. 4-6.15 

1903 Haydock, Pte. J. 4.6.15 

1535 Hunt, Pte. H. 4.6.15 

1603 Makin, Pte. A. W. 4.6.15 

1965 Moore, Pte. G. 4.6.15 



2079 Newman, Pte. G.E. 4.6.15 
i960 Newman, Pte. G.E. 4.0.15 
69 Piatt, Pte. R. 4.6.15 

1434 Tearsley, Pte. A. 4.6.15 
1646 Williams, Pte. S. 4.6.15 



Dead — Sickness. 



2515 Ashton, Pte. C. B. 

1 6.10.15 
2274 Boden, Pte. G. C. 5.11.15 

2554 Clare, Pte. H. 18. 8.15 

3271 Couper, Pte. G. 30.7.16 
3275 Edwards, Pte. J. 8.8.15 



275252 Hardy, L/Sgt. A. 1.3. 19 
37791 Leach, Pte. R. 14. 11. 18 
3051 Oldfield, Pte. W. F. 

12. 10.15 
1701 Redford, Pte. S. F. 

27.5.16 



1 1 80 Beckett, Pte. R. 
4361 Hind, Pte. W. 
2099 Kenyon, Pte. F. 



Died in Egypt. 



8.2.16 

26.9.16 

26.12.14 



4176 Stocks, Pte. T. 29.5.15 

932 Williams, Pte. F. 21.1.15 

2368 Wood, Pte. E. 4.6.16 



Died. 



276353 Berry, Pte. J. 28.1. 18 

275051 Blackledge, Pte. 6.2.18 
275083 Brewer, Pte. M. C. 

1 8.9. 1 8 
3325 Ebourne, Pte. W. 22.1. 17 



276587 Haslewood, Pte. T. 

2326 Keogh, Pte. F. 
276559 Norton, Pte. J. 
276297 Vipond, Pte. A. 



23-3-18 
22.5.15 
20.8.17 
7. 10.17 



154 



APPENDIX II.— Continued. 



Died of Wounds. 



74412 Baker, Pte. H. 10.10.18 
276623 Bamber, Pte. M. 19.4.18 
1958 Bancroft, Pte. J. W. 

23-9-15 

1738 Barton, Pte. T. 25.5.15 

275035 Beckett, Pte. J. 3-H-I7 

2178 Boaley, Pte. A. 29.5.15 

74408 Bridson, Pte. R. 25.7.18 

275068 Brown, Sgt. H. 22.8.18 

2402 Brown, Pte. J. W. 30.6.15 

1780 Burr, Pte. H. 14.5.15 

756 Butcher, Pte. H. 7.8.15 

2436 Byrne, Pte. T. 17.6. 15 

2268 Carpenter, Pte. C. 

275109 Carroll, Sgt. J. 27.3.18 

275108 Cavanagh, Pte. J. 29.3.18 

2381 Chantler, Pte. J. 21.4.15 

276626 Clegg, Pte. H. 4.1 1. 17 

275104 Cliffe, Pte. G. 6.4.18 

1479 Connell, Pte. A. 27.8.15 

276595 Cookson, Pte. W. 23.7.18 

3080 Dale, Pte. H. 24.7.15 
275133 Davidson, Pte. S. 1.6.17 
276974 Davies, Pte. G. 5.9.17 

3035 Davies, Pte. H. 31.7.15 
276434 Doherty, Pte. T. 11.11.17 
295030 Daley, Pte. A. 14.4. 18 



277565 Earnshaw, Pte. N 



22.8.18 



275937 Fairhurst, Pte. F. 28.3.18 

276960 Finch, Pte. S. 25.3.18 

53904 Forbes, Pte. W. 25.8.18 

276680 Gibson, Pte. F. 26.4.17 

27515 Gibson, Pte. J. 3.4.18 

42683 Goddard, Pte. T. 23.8.18 

275188 Golton, Pte. J. 25.5.17 

48689 Greenhalgh, Pte. J. 

30.7.18 
1455 Gregory, Pte. J. 14. 10.15 

276345 Harrop, Pte. W. 2.9.18 
521 1 Hartnett, R.S.M. 19.10.17 



2014 Hazeltine, Pte. 

J.R. H. 29.5.15 

275254 Heath, Sgt. H., M.M. 

24.4.1,8 

2 95°73 Heyward, Pte. S. 10.6.17 

2655 Hunt, Pte. W. 2.6.15 

276424 Jackson, L/c E., M.M. 

27.3.18 

1858 Jacques, Pte. G. 8.8.15 

295038 Johnson, Pte. A. 5.1. 18 

276286 Johnson, Pte. R. 28.3.18 

275791 Jones, Pte. J. 6.4.18 



275307 Kay, Pte. R. 



6.4.18 

" T 5 



295 Leigh, Pte. E. 
275319 Lockett, Cpl. S. E., 

D.C.M. 27.9.18 

1179 Lowrey, Pte. H. 31. 5. 15 



3662 

1821 

1500 

276350 

2433 
2002 

276414 
1761 
3038 
2269 
1598 
1265 
38 



Marshall, Pte. R. 
McCleod, Pte. A. 
McHugh, Pte. H. 
Midgeley, Pte. T. 
Milligan, Pte. A. 



13. 12.15 

27.5.15 
28.6.15 
28.9.18 
28.5.15 



Millington, Pte. T. 

15.6.15 
Minns, Sgt. W. 28.3.18 
Minshall, Pte. F. 5.6.15 
Mitchell, Pte. H. 17.9.15 
Moran, Pte. J. 4.6.15 

Morris, Pte. E. 29.5.15 
Morris, Pte. H. 19. 7. 15 
Munday, Sgt. F. 10.6.15 



276519 Norman, Pte. E. 25.8.17 
429 Nuttall, Pte. H. W. 

29.5.15 

1561 Pannell, Pte. T. 9.8.15 
1 82 1 Parsonage, Pte. A. F. 

4.6.15 

1438 Pease, Pte. W. S. 30.6.15 

277763 Pender, Pte. W. 16.4.18 

176 Percival, Pte. J. 15.6. 15 

276912 Piatt, Pte. W. C. 25.8.18 



APPENDIX \l.— Continued. 



'55 



276432 Prendergast, Pte. 25.8.18 
2316 Powell, Pte. A. E. 29.5.15 

1401 Reid, Pte. J. 30.10.15 

276645 Roberts, Pte. J. 5.5.17 

2067 Ross, Pte. C. 25.8.15 

2965 Salt, Pte. G. 5.1 1.1 5 

1929 Slowe, Pte. J. W. 4.7.15 

276368 Sparling. L/c P. 22.8.18 
1937 Sowden, Pte. W. P. 

1 5.6. 1 5 

276321 Stahler, Pte. J. 20.10.17 

2375 Thomas, Pte. E. 20.7.15 



276987 Treadway, Pte. T. 

22.12.17 
275566 Taylor, Pte. J. W. 5.4.18 



275790 

275603 
1357 

Z95023 
1788 
2296 
1699 

276635 

2347 



Wakefield, Pte. G. 29.9.18 
Walker, Pte. J. W. 4.4.1 8 



Walsh, Pte. M. 
Ward, Pte. A. 
Ward, Pte. ]. 
Wilde, Pte. J. F. 
Winstall, Pte. H. 



1 [.6.15 

12. 1 1. 17 

1. 6. 1 5 

15.9.16 

1 3.8. 1 5 



Wisken, Pte. A., M.M 

22.8.18 
Wolstencroft, Pte. 

R. K. 29.5.15 

Wrigley, Pte. J. 22.6. 1 6 



Reported Dead. 
1441 Downey, Pte. O. (no date) 275223 Hilton, Pte. W. (no date; 



Missing. 



1 148 Balf, Pte. C. 4.6.15 

2323 Bracegirdle, Pte. L. 

7.8.15 
1793 Harrison, Pte. W. 4.6.15 
276230 Johnson, Pte. W. A. 

16.6.18 
569 Kirkby, Pte. H. 4.6.15 



2206 Krell, Pte. J. 7.8.15 

3231 Stoddart, Pte. L. 7.8.15 
2007 Tracey, Pte. 

1614 Wakefield, Pte. A. 4.6.15 

2172 Wallace, Pte. G. 4.6.15 

1262 Williams, Pte. H. 4.6.15 

267 Worrall, Pte. J.E. 4.6.15 



Index. 



(Italics signify that the person mentioned has been killed or has died of wounds) 



Page 

Abbeville 32, 90 

Abbott, Lt. 113 

Ablainzevelle, 76, 82-84, 88, 90, 

93, 95 

Achiet, 44-46, 80, 81, 83, 90, 

97> J 22 

Aire - - 65 

Albert r - 46 

Albert, King 60 

Aldred, Sgt. J. - - 108, 143 
Alexandria - - - - 18, 29, 30 
Allan, Major - - 5, 65, 66, 69 
Allen, Capt. C. R- 100, 112, 
124, 128 
Allenby, Gen. - - - - 8 

Americans 102 

Amiens 32, 95 

Ancre - - 32, 113, 116, 117 
Andrews, C.Q.M.S. - - 28 
Anlezark, R.S.M. W. - - 100 

Armentieres 66 

Arras 90, 117 

Asylum 50 

Aubers Ridge 66 

Australians - - - - 80, 85, 96 
Australian L. H. - 6, 9, 13, 23 

Aveluy r - 46 

Ayette, 76, 84 

Ayr & Inverness H. A. - 13 

Bagdad ------ 31 

Bagshaw, Lt. K. - - - 89 
Baker, Capt. J., 2, 19, 71, 77 
81, 113, 120, 134, 137 
Baker, Lt. R. J. R. - - - 3 
Banahan, Sgt. J. - - - - 108 

Bapaume - - 44, 79, 80, 85 
Barastre - - - - 44, 121, 122 



Page 

Barratt, Capt. W. H., 16, 107, 
113, 114, 134, 143 

Basin Wood 104 

Bateman, Lt. H. M. - -2, 93 

Beaulencourt 120 

Beaumont Hamel, 96, 97, 107, 

114 
Beauvois - - - - 135, 138 

Beck Farm 50, 52 

Behagnies - - - - 7J, 79, 80 
Belle Vue Farm - - - - 136 

Bethune 65, 70, 75 

Biaches - - 33 

Bihucourt 79, 80 

Bill Cottage 53 

Bir el Abd 18, 20 

Bitia - - - 25 

Blatherwick, Lt.-Col. - - 89 

Boar Copse 131 

Borry Farm - - - - 50, 52 
Bourlon Wood - - - - 38 
Bowie, Pie. /.---- 68 
Braithwaite, Pt. T. - - - 43 
Branchflower, C.S.M. - - 143 

Brandhoek 50 

Branthwaite, Capt. R. H. - 138 
Brickstacks - - - - 67, 70 
Bromfield, Lt.-Col. - 66, 70, 76, 
81, 82, 89, 94 
Brown, Sgt. W. - ■ ■ - 114 

Bryan, Lt. C. 5 

Bucquoy - 82, 83, 92-96, 99 
101, 122 

Bullecourt - 80 

Burbure 72, 74 

Burlington Street - - - 143 

Burn, Capt- Grey - 3, 16, 102, 

113, JI 5> ll 9, 134, i3 8 



INDEX- 

Pmg, 
Bus 121 

Busnes 74, 75 

Byng, Gen. - - - 66, 77, 102 

Cairo 6, 25 

Cambrai - - 65, 126, 134, 135 
Cambridge Road - - - - 51 
Canal du Nord - - -37, 123 
Canning, Lt.-Col. A.- - - 2, 4 

Carley, Lt. 128 

Carr, Lt.-Col. H. A. - - 54, 65 
Catelet Copse .... 36 

Caudry 142 

Cetorix Trench - - - - no 
Chadwick, Capt. G. - - 16, 18 
Chalons-sur-Saone - - - 31 

Charleroi 142 

Chateau-de-la-Haie - - - 99 
Chatterton, Lt. J. - - 19, 52 

Chuignes 32 

Cloth Hall 50 

Clough, Q.M.S. S. 53, 62, 100 

Colincamps < 117 

Corsica 31 

Courcelles 76, 80 

Coxyde 56, 64 

Creagh, Capt. J. R. • 2, 4, 16, 

77, 81, 107, 108, 124, 134 

Cronshaw, Lt.-Col. A. E. 4, 18, 

32) 44. 54 

Darlington, Lt.-Col. - - - 36 

Davies, Lt.-Col. - - - - 92 
Dean Copse - - - - 39, 41 

Dijon 31 

Division 1st 55 

5th 95 

„ 6th 106 

9th 52 

„ nth 2 

„ 15th - - - - 48, 49 

„ 17th 120 

„ 21st 37 

„ 25th 66 

» 29th 54 

„ 32nd 55 

„ 37th - - - - 95- 123 

„ 40th ■■■■ 77,79 

„ 41st - - - 59, 64, 91 



Continued. 157 

race 

Division 5 1 st 95 

„ 52nd - 1, 3, 4, 6, 17, 

22, 23 

„ 53rd • - - 4, 20, 28 

„ 55th - - - - 68, 72 

„ 57th 99 

„ 58th 44 

„ 61st 50 

„ 62nd - 83, 86, 94, 129, 

137 

,, 63rd (Naval) - 107, 117 

„ 66th - - 56, 74, 112 

„ N.Z. - 79, 85, 95, 102, 

107, 117, 120, 132, 

134, 136, 138, 139 

Divisional Motto - - - - 73 

Dobell, Gen. 29 

Dompierre 32 

Douai 135 

Douglas, Maj.-Gen. Sir Wm. 5, 7 

12, 24, 32 

Douglas, Lt. C. B. - - 2, 108, 

113, 116, 134 

Doullens r 95 

Duedar 7 

Dunkirk r - 65 

East Lanes. 4th - - - 34, 73 
5th 23, 43, 116, 118 
132, 140 
Edge, Lt. N. - -107, 108, 128 

E. L. C. 19, 22 

El Arish - - 4, 18, 22-27, 54 

El Ferdan 28 

El Maadan 23, 25 

El Mazar - - - - 18, 20, 24 

Epehy 34-37 

Ervillers 79 

Essarts 9 I_ 93 

Euston Dump 104 

Farrow, Capt. J. - • - - 2, 4 
Ferny Wood - - - 126, 128 

Festubert 66, 67 

Finch, Pte. 46 

Fins 37 

Fleetwood, Sgt. A. - - - 103 
Flesquieres - - 38, 123, 127 
Fleurus 142 



•53 



I N DEX — Continue J. 



Page 
Foch, Marshall - 95, 126, 135 
Franklin, Lt. H. C. - - -2, 16 
Franklin, Lt. G. W. F. 3, 16, 70 

Frezenburg 5° 

Fusilier Trench - - - - 103 



Gallipoli - 1, 4, 18, 28, 30; 34, 
45. 53, 54, 7o, 77' 
101, 107, 122, 132, 

*33 

Gapp, Lt. 130 

Gaza r - - 25 

Gibson, Pte. 33 

Gilban 5, 7 

Givenchy - - - - 66, 67, 70 
Gleeson, Sgt. L. - - - - 115 
Gomiecourt - - -77, 80, 81 
Gommecourt - 45, 91, 9 2 > 96, 
97, 101 
Goodier, Lt. A. - 102, 103, m 

Goore 69 

Gorst, Lt. H. 105, 108, 109, in 
Green, Sgt. J. IV. - 103, 115 
Greer, Pte. A. - - - 116, 133 
Gresty, Lt. W. - 2, 3, 89, 108, 
109, in, 124, 128, 
129, 131, 132, 134, 143 
Greville, Capt. .... 88 

Grevillers - 85 

Guttery, Sgt. 115 



Hacker, Lt. R. N. - - - 2 
Haig, F.-M. Sir Douglas - 95 
Hammond, Lt. - 119, 120, 124, 

128 
Harland, Lt. J. A. 77, 99, 114 

Harley Street 68 

Harper, Lt.-Gen. - - - 95 
Harris, Lt. L. G. - - - 5, 32 
Hartnett, R.S.M., N. ■ - 53 
Hautmont .... 140, 142 
Havrincourt - 36, 37-44, 45, 48, 
51, 66, 121, 123, 126, 134 

Hazebrouck 65 

Heath, Sgt. F. - 62, 63, 80, 99 

Hebuterne - 80, 82, 95, 96, 98 

99, 102, 104, 107 



PaA 

Henley, Brig.-Gen. A. M. - 36, 
45, 59, 82, 83, 99, 106, 
122, 132, 133 

Henu 100, 102 

Herbignies 139 

Hermies 37. 123 

Higham, Major C. E. - 3, 16, 

95, 100 

Highland Ridge - - - - 126 

Hill 35 49, 5o 

Hill 40 2, 4, 5 

Hill 70 2-5 

Hindenburg Line - 32, 34, 38, 
121, 123-133, 134 

Hingette 72 

Hodge, Lt. A. - - 32, 41-43 
Horsfield, Sgt. J. - 105, 109, in 
Hoskyns, Rev. E. C. - 19, 77, 
81, 106 
Houghton, C.Q.M.S. - - 28 

Hulluch 73 

Hurst, Major G. B. 1, 59, 70, 

101 

Iberian Farm .... 50 
Indiarubber House - - - 61 

Irles - - 117 

Ismailia 29 

Italy 63, 64 

Jeudwine, Maj.-Gen. - - 68 

Johns, Pte. 35 

Jones, Lt. 28 

Joyce, C.S.M. - - - - 128 

" J " Track 5° 

Juvissy 3 2 

Kantara 1, 17, 28 

Katia - - - 6, 11-15, 23, 94 

Katib Gannit 6 

Kay, Lt. H. N. ■ ■ - 2, 115 
Khirba 20 

La Bassee 66, 68 

Lanes. Fusiliers -4, 11, 12, 32, 

43, 5°, 5 1 , 53, 6o > 6 3> 73, 
79, 80, 90, 92, 93, 99, in, 
114, 119, 121, 124, i27j 
129, 131, 137, 140 



INDEX— Continued. 



'59 



La Panne 59 

La Signy Faun - 104, 107, 
108, in, 129 

Laventie 66 

Lawrence, Lt.-Gen. - - • 3 

Le Carnoy 4c 

Le Cateau 135 

Leffinckoueke 65 

Lempire 36 

Lens 66, 113 

Le Preol 72 

Le Quesnoy - - - 138, 139 

Liercourt 32 

Ligny-Thilloy 118 

Lille 49, 66 

Lillers 65, 72, 75 

Little Priel Farm - - - 35 
Lockett, Lee. -C pi. S. - - 1 10 

Locon - - 72 

Lofthouse. Lt. - - - - 114 
Logeast Wood .... 80-85 
Lombaertzyde .... 61 

Loos 73 

Loupart Wood - - - 85, 118 
Louvencourt - - 94, 95, 111 

Ludendorf 117 

Ludlam, Lt. E. W . - - - 90 

Lyons j- - 31 

Lyth, C.S.M. --.. 28 

Maghdaba 25 

Maguire, Cpl. A. - - • 86 

Mahamadiyeh 4, 6 

Mall, Lt. 90 

Malta 30 

Manchesters, 5th - 7, 8, 12, 36, 
4°, 43, 52, 53, 58- 63, 73, 
91, 94, 119, 120, 124, 
127, 131, 136, 137 
Manchesters, 6th - -7, 12, 13, 
22, 44, 50, 73, 79, 80, 87, 
90, 91, 107, 108, 119, 
120, 124, 126, 129, 130, 

131, 136, 137 
Manchesters, 8th - 5, 7, 12, 22,- 

30, 41, 43, 73, 92, 118, 

132, 140 
Manchesters, 9th - 72,73, 112 
Manchesters, 10th • 73, 107, 131 



Manger, Lt.-Col. E. V. - 100, 
102, 106, 111, 119, 1J4, 
134, 138, 143 

Manning - 38, 123, 127, 129 

M.irou 136, 137 

Marseilles .... 31 

Marshall, Lt. J. 

Marshall, Lt.-Col. 

Mather, Sgt. - - 

Maubeuge • • ■ 

Maxwell, Gen. - ■ 

Mazinghem - - ■ 

McAlmont, Lt. - - 

McHugh, C.S.M. S 



2 
60, 63 

• '33 

- 140 

1 

65, 66 

- 128 
28, 43, 

99, 133 
McLaine, Lt. D. ... 90 
McLean, Pte. T. - - - 43 
Mediterranean .... 30 

Menin Gate 50 

Merelissart 32 

Milne, Lt. J. H. - 62, 63, 102, 

103, 128, 129, 133 

Miranmont - - -114, 115, 116 

Mitford, Maj.-Gen. - - 32, 54 

Moascar 29 

Moeuvres 37 

Mormal Forest - - - 1 38-1 41 
Morrough, Lt.-Col. - - - 30 
Morten, Lt. J. - 3, 59, 71, 89 

Mory 77, 80 

Murray, Gen. Sir A. - - 29 

Nasmith, Lt. G. W. - ■ 2 

Negiliat 18 

Nekl 20 

Nelson, Capt. D. -112, 116, 124 
Neuve Chapelle - - - - 66 
New Zealand M. R. - - - 7, 23 
Nidd, Capt. H. H. - - 2, 16, 
77, 99, 100, 101 

Nieuport 54-66 

Norbury, Capt. B. - - - 2, 16 
Norbury, Capt. C. - - -2, 16 
Norbury, Capt. D. - - 5, 138 
Norbury, Lt. G. - - - 28 
Norbury, Lt. M. - - -3, 17 



Conn ell, Cpl. ■ 
Ogden, R.Q.M.S. 



68 
100 



i6o 



I N DEX — Continued. 



Page 

Oghratina - - - - -4, 15 

Oost Dunkerque Bains - 56 

Orange 31 

Ormsby, Brig.-Gen. - ■ - 5, 36 
Ostend 55 

Palestine - - - • 8, 25, 26 
Palmer, Capt. F. C. - 107, 119 

Paris 32, 113 

Pas 100 

Paschendaele - - - - 63, 66 
Pearson, Lt. H . - - 129, 132 
Pell-Ilderton, Lt. - - - 2, m 

Pelusium 7 

Peronne 33, 34 

Petain, Gen. 65 

Philp, Capt. - - - 77, 81, 87 

Pont a Pierre 139 

Pont Remy 32 

Poperinghe - - - 46, 50, 54 

Port Said 28 

Portuguese .... 72, 76 

Potijze 48 

Premy Chapel .... 38 
Puisieux - * - 97, 113, "4 
Putney Bridge .... 60 

Rae, Major G. B. L. - 100, 107, 
113, 114, 119, 134, 138 

Rafa 25, 27 

Ramadan 6 

Rawlinson, Gen. - - - - 55 
Ray, Lt. H. M. - ■ - - 128 

Redan 60, 61, 65 

Red Dragon Crater - - - 67 

Rhone 31 

Ribecourt - - - 38, 127, 129 

Riencourt 118-121 

Riley, Sgt. R. - - - - 135 

Roisel 36, 37 

Romani - - 4, 6, 10, 16, 18 

Ronssoy 36 

Rose, Lt. & Q.M. - - - 33 
Ross-Bain Lt. - - - - * 3 
Rossignol Wood - 95, 96, 107 
Ruyaul Court - - - - 40, 41 



Sabkhet - - 
Sailly-au-Bois 



20 
99, 104 



Page 

Salesches 139 

Salmana 20 

Sapignies 79, 80 

Saunderson, Pte. G. - - 71 
Scott, Major J. - - - 2, 33 

Scots Greys 121 

Scottish Horse - - - - 3, 5 

Selle River 134-138 

Serre - 97, 105, 106, 113, 114 

Shallufa 28 

Shields, C.S.M. J. - - 92, 130 
Siddall, Lt. J. R. - 130, 133 

Sidi Bishr 18 

Sievewright Lt. M . J . • 32, 63 
Smedley, Capt. .... 2 
Smith, Lt. - - - 103, 115, 130 

Smithies, Lt. 119 

Solesmes .... 135, 137 
Solly-Flood, Maj.-Gen. - 59, 68 
Somme - 32, 76, 96, 113, 135 

Souastre 94, 101 

Stanier, Lt. 116 

St. Quentin 135 

Sudan 1, 53, IQI 

Suez Canal - 1, 4, 6, 8, 26, 28 
Summers, Lce.-Cpl. - - - 35 



Tabbron, C.S.M. - - - 92, 133 
Taylor, Capt. L. - - - - 56 
Taylor, Lt. B. - - - 32, 81 

Templeux 36 

Thiepval 45 

Teteghem 65 

Thorp, Lt. W. 16, 89, 10 1 

Thorpe, Lt. C. R. - - - 70 
Thrutchley, Lt. F. D. - 128, 133 

Tillul 20 

Timsa Lake 29 

Tinker, Capt. A. H. - 2, 16, 77 
89, 101 
Titchener, Pte. E. - - 62, 63 
Toronto Camp • - - 50, 54 
Townson, Capt. E. 3, 18, 41, 100 

Trescault 126 

Triangle 108-111 

Tullibardine, Marquis of - 3 

Turk Top 2, 3 

Twist, Lce.-Cpl. T. - - - 116 



INDEX— Contimu-J. 



161 



Yauchelles - - - - 

Vendhuile - - - - ■ 
Versailles - - - - ■ 

Viesly 

Vieux Mesnil - - - • 
Villers-au-Flos 1 17-120, 
Villers Carbonel - - ■ 
Villers Faucon - - 

Ward-Jones, Capt. A. 
Warlencourt - 113, 

Warlington Crater - 
Watling Street - - 
Wedgwood, Lt.-Col. 
Welch, Lt. - - - - 
Welsh Ridge - - - 
Wender, Lt. - - - 
Westminster Bridge - 
White, Pte. J. 
Wigan Copse - 
Wilbraha?n, Pte 
Wild, Lce.-Cpl. 
Wilde Wood - 



T. 



Pmgt 

- 93 

- 34 

- 32 

- !39 

- 140 

22, 133 

- 33 
34, 36 



- -3, 17 
116, 117, 
122, 123 

- - 67 

- - 104 

- 82, 87 

- - 120 



126, 
102, 



132 
103 

67 
130 

39-42 

35 
62 

52 



Pmg* 

Wilkinson, Lt. - - 2, 70, 91, 

1 06, 117 

Wilkinson, V,C, Pte. - - 137 

Wilmer, Pte. R. - - - ■ 86 

Wilson, Capt. S. J. -2, 77, 103, 
107, 119, 124, 130, 131, 
132, 133, 134, 138 



Windy Corner 
Winizeele 
Wood, Lt. C. S. - 
Wood, Lt. A. S. 
Wood, Capt. & Q.M. - 
Woods, Lt. .... 
Woodward, Lt. - - - 
Woodworth, Lt. F. T. K. 
Wormhoudt - - - 
Wright, Lt. - - - - 



67 

54. 56 

77, 103 

- 90 

- 117 

- 128 



93 
128 



Ypres 

Yser 

Ytres 



47-54, 55, 60, 62, 66 

55 

- - - 37, 44, 121 



Zeebrugge 



55 



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